Creating Safe Schools & Healthy Communities

WHO is Sandy Hook Promise Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national (gun) violence prevention organization founded by some of the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic school shooting on December 14, 2012. Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director

WHAT we do SHP helps prevent (gun) violence BEFORE it happens by teaching schools and youth organizations how to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at-risk of hurting themselves or others and intervene to get them help. Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director

HOW we do it ATTRACT and engage youth and adults to raise awareness of (gun) violence and help bring our prevention programs to their community EDUCATE and empower, at no cost, schools and youth organizations in our Know the Signs prevention programs

So no other parent has to experience the loss of their child WHY we do it Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director So no other parent has to experience the loss of their child

A Little Background…

53 Children and Teens are Shot and 7 Die Every Day Gun violence (defined as homicide, suicide and unintentional shooting) in America is significant… 112,000 Are Shot (19,300 Children & Teens) 32,000 Lose Their Lives (~2/3 are suicide) (2,500 Children & Teens) Averaged 500,000 Acts of Gun Violence Each Year Since 2004 390,000 Witnesses (150,000 Children & Teens) 80,000 Are Injured (16,800 Children & Teens) 53 Children and Teens are Shot and 7 Die Every Day Source: FBI, CDC, SHP Calculations. The Truth About Kids and Guns. Average Annually.

Ashamed…New approach is needed Shocked over the number of acts Ashamed that we had turned away Become a culture immune to the violence Launched initiative to better understand What are the causes of gun violence? Why haven’t Americans engaged in this issue? How can it be prevented? What is getting in the way of prevention? What role can we take?

Key findings that informed our mission Americans are not engaged in the issue of gun violence - they feel hopeless and are turned off by gun rhetoric Too much focus on “the gun” as the cause of gun violence - need to address “the human” holding the gun as well Belief that policy is the only solution - historically, education and community are drivers to change Schools and youth organizations … petri dish of future violent / non-violent behavior and actions

Finally, there is minimal support for prevention Many individuals often show warning signs and share information BEFORE gun violence occurs, but there is no national program dedicated to helping recognize these signs

6+ Most mass shootings are planned for 6+ MONTHS. In nearly every case, warning signs were given.

37% 28% 37% of threats of student violence were sent electronically 28% of those used used social media 28%

70% of people who complete suicide tell someone their plans or give some other warning sign.

Attract and Engage … Shift focus away from the gun and to “protecting your child, friend and classmate” Acknowledge and validate helplessness & hopelessness…Introduce what can be done NOW Introduce and educate Americans that (gun) violence is preventable if you “Know the Signs” Build and engage base of Americans to take action. Create Promise Leaders in schools and communities

Educate and Empower … Partner and deliver our “Know the Signs” programs, at no cost, to schools and youth organizations   & Intervention Safety Assessment

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Start With Hello … Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director Teaches students how to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other.

Outcome and benefits… Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director Changes culture from within Peer led. Empowering. New engagement levels Connected community Bullying reduction, foster socialization

Coming in January … Anonymous Reporting System! Teaches students on how to recognize signs, especially in social media, of an individual who may be a threat to themselves or others and say something to a trusted adult. Coming in January … Anonymous Reporting System!

Outcome and benefits… Educate on signs and signals – especially in social media Fosters “upstander” culture Reduction in violence Reduction in suicide Reduction in bullying More students getting help

Gets to the root cause of the issue. Safety Assessment & Intervention   Training for schools and youth organizations on how to identify, assess and respond to threats and observed at-risk behavior Gets to the root cause of the issue. & Intervention Safety Assessment

Safety Assessment & Intervention   Safer, more open school environment Violence, bullying, threats reduction Educator fear, anxiety reduction Short, long term suspension reduction More positive view of teachers and staff by students & Intervention Safety Assessment

Youth Mental Health First Aid Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director Training for schools and community-based orgs on how to identify, intervene and help in children and teens in mental health crisis or displaying at-risk behavior, especially those at-risk of suicide.

Outcome and benefits… Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director Educated on Mental Illness Better understand signs and signals Get help for students in need Speak and act with credibility Breaks down stigmas

While helping to prevent gun violence … we are helping the wellness of ALL Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director SHP Programs help the 6-8% that may become violent while also helping the 92- 94% who will never become violent but may struggle with addiction, social, emotional and cognitive impairment and other physical ailments  

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Program delivery and sustainability… Delivery - AT NO COST Direct Training for all programs – 50 National Trainers Digital Download (Say Something and Start With Hello only) Sustainability - SHP Program Managers work with schools post-launch Embed youth programs in existing clubs SHP annual call-to-action weeks Materials, collateral for students, community and parents   Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director

Email programs@sandyhookpromise.org with any questions! National Call to Action Weeks Say Something Week October 24-28, 2016 Start With Hello Week February 6-10, 2017 Email programs@sandyhookpromise.org with any questions!

SHP Impact and Momentum…

SHP Impact and Momentum… 1,000,000+ youth and adults trained in our programs Trained in ~1,270 schools and youth organizations Built a base of 810,000+ supporters from 50 states Trained 1,930 Promise Leaders from 49 states Built a network of ~450 alliances and partnerships Prevented school shooting, suicides, gun threats and helped youth get access to mental health assistance Expanding into Miami-Dade public schools, LA public schools and have 6 other districts joining in 2016 Discovery Education and national student clubs Timothy Makris – Executive Director Mark Barden – Managing Director Paula Fynboh – National Field Director

How Can You Help… Make the Promise at sandyhookpromise.org Bring our Know the Signs programs to your school – direct training or digital download. We have folders with details on each program. Key contact: Paula Fynboh, National Field Director paula.fynboh@sandyhookpromise.org Join Sandy Hook Promise for our Say Something and Start With Hello Weeks – info on our website  

Thank You

Make the Promise to Protect Children and Together We Can Prevent Gun Violence