Illinois launching new school safety initiative

Posted on October 20, 2021
The new initiative is available to students 24/7. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – The state is launching a new school safety initiative called “safe-two-help Illinois.”

The idea is to give students an easy way to report their concerns, whether it’s a suicidal friend, bullying, sexual assault, or threats of school violence.

“If this is a critical time-sensitive kind of issue, we have the ability to funnel that information immediately to law enforcement,” said State Emergency Management Agency Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. “But a lot of the cases, we are able to funnel this information to the school officials on the ground.”

Information reported by a student is forwarded to local law enforcement, if appropriate and school officials.

Safe-two-help is available 24/7 and comes at no cost to school districts.

Students can access the service via the website at safethenumbetwohelpIL.com.

WJBC staff can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…