Sandy Hook Promise Foundation

THE MISSION OF SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION) IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER YOUTH AND ADULTS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR EVIDENCE INFORMED "KNOW THE SIGNS" PROGRAMS, WE TEACH YOUTH AND ADULTS TO RECOGNIZE, INTERVENE, AND GET HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. ALL FOUNDATION PROGRAM OFFERINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AT NO COST.

FOUNDATION'S EVIDENCE INFORMED KNOW THE SIGNS PREVENTION PROGRAMS TEACH YOUTH AND ADULTS THE WARNING SIGNS OF SOMEONE WHO MAY BE IN CRISIS, SOCIALLY ISOLATED, OR AT-RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND HOW TO GET HELP. THESE EARLY PREVENTION MEASURES EMPOWER STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS TO KEEP SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES SAFE. EACH PROGRAM OFFERS AGE-APPROPRIATE STUDENT TRAININGS THAT CAN BE DELIVERED IN A CLASSROOM, ASSEMBLY OR THROUGH VIRTUAL TRAINING. ALL RESOURCES NEEDED ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO SCHOOLS. FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS ALSO ALIGN WITH CASEL STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING INCLUDING RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, SOCIAL AWARENESS, RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING, AND SELF-AWARENESS.OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE:- START WITH HELLO TEACHES YOUTH TO MINIMIZE SOCIAL ISOLATION, EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS, AND CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND CONNECTED CULTURE. - SAY SOMETHING TRAINS STUDENTS TO LOOK FOR WARNING SIGNS AND THREATS; ESPECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA; OF SOMEONE AT-RISK OF HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND TO "SAY SOMETHING" TO A TRUSTED ADULT BEFORE A TRAGEDY CAN OCCUR.- SAY SOMETHING ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM BUILDS ON THE SAY SOMETHING PROGRAM AND INCLUDES AN ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM VIA A DOWNLOADABLE APP., TELEPHONE HOTLINE, TEXTING, AND WEBSITE THAT STUDENTS CAN USE TO REPORT AN ISSUE WHEN THEY SEE A CLASSMATE WHO IS AT RISK OF HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. OUR NATIONAL CRISIS CENTER THEN REVIEWS THESE TIPS, GATHERS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND, IF/WHEN DEEMED CREDIBLE, FORWARDS SUBMISSIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND/OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO INTERVENE AND GET HELP. - SAVE PROMISE CLUBS ARE STUDENT-LED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO TAKE CHARGE OF KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE BY TEACHING, MODELING, AND CONTINUALLY REINFORCING THE KEY MESSAGES OF START WITH HELLO AND SAY SOMETHING. EACH SAVE PROMISE CLUB RECEIVES TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO PLAN EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE KINDNESS, INCLUSIVENESS, AND THE VALUE OF LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.MORE THAN 2.6 MILLION YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND NEARLY 21 MILLION HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAMS. WE CONTINUE TO INVEST SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT AND RESOURCES IN IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONALITY AND EFFICACY OF OUR DIGITAL PROGRAM TRAINING TOOLS, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL EMPHASIS ON RACE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (REDI). THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE US WELL POSITIONED FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR ALL AUDIENCES AND IN WHATEVER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SCHOOLS REQUIRE GOING FORWARD, BE IT IN-PERSON TRAINING, VIRTUAL-LIVE TRAININGS USING VIDEO CONFERENCING, OR SELF-LED DIGITAL TRAININGS.

MAKE THE PROMISE MOVEMENT BUILDING AND PROMISE LEADER VOLUNTEERS- FOUNDATION'S MAKE THE PROMISE INITIATIVE ATTRACTS, BUILDS, AND ENGAGES A COMMITTED INFLUENTIAL MAJORITY OF AMERICANS TO JOIN FOUNDATION IN THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, VIOLENCE, AND OTHER HARMFUL ACTS IN SCHOOLS. WE ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH TARGETED MESSAGING AND EDUCATION THROUGH ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PROMOTIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, EVENTS, DOCUMENTARIES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. FOUNDATION ALSO BUILDS AND MAINTAINS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER "PROMISE LEADERS" WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND EMPOWERED WITH THE SKILLS, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT OUR KNOW THE SIGNS PROGRAMS, ADVOCATE FOR COMMON SENSE POLICIES, AND FUNDRAISE TO SUPPORT MORE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS.