Parent Support
Support for Parents
We understand it can be difficult to talk about public safety threats and dangers to your children. You want them informed but you don’t want to scare them. But open communication is essential to both prepare your children for potential threats and teach them how to report suspicious activity they may see online.
What to Say to Kids?
Information for children should be based entirely on their need, developmental age, and relationship/proximity to a potential crisis or event. The goal is to reassure students that although there is always a possibility of violence, the probability of a school experiencing a high-profile violent act is low.
Why Children Don’t Report
Talk to your kids and believe your kids when they come to you. Children tend to see threats, warning signs, and signals, but don’t report them for many reasons, such as:
-
They think someone else will say something
​
-
They don’t want to be labeled as a “snitch” or “tattle-tale"
​
-
They don’t know who to tell
​
-
They don’t think they’ll be taken seriously
Did You Know?
Did you know that 70% of people who attempt suicide told someone of their plans or gave some other warning sign? 80% of school shooters told someone of their violent plans. 59% told more than one person. Children should be told that if they see or hear from a friend or classmate who says they will hurt themselves or others, they should report it to a teacher, a police officer, or their parents.
What To Look Out For, and How to Monitor
Today, children have access to large variety of online platforms including apps, online games, social media, and internet browsers. One of the best ways parents can better understand the online platforms their children are exposed to is by testing, playing, and watching the programs their children use so you can talk to them about what they're seeing on their screens. You know your kids best, so you're the best judge of what they can handle.
Online Gaming
Six out of ten children over the age of two play video games across multiple devices that allow for social media interaction. In fact, more than a third play exclusively on mobile devices. Potential threats can take place through online gaming platforms including cyberbullying, online predators, and radicalizations for domestic and international terrorist cells.
Additional Parent Resources
Offers BRIDGES program to OC district schools. Site offers statistics, CA education codes/laws that protect people from bullying, and links to bullying resources.
The International Bullying Prevention Association offers support for parents of children with special needs, webinars, manuals on how to address bullying.
Provides a list of resources for all age groups who may be going through a crisis, needs help with alcohol or substance abuse, or may need early prevention help.
Provides wellness promotion & prevention services, childhood & family support services, multicultural services, LGBTQ+ services, veteran services, etc
Early Childhood mental health, school-based programs, & Family support and parent education.
They offer psychiatric evaluations, play therapy, parent education, emotional regulation help, parent support and education, etc.
Provides link/hotlines for victims of domestic abuse, harassment, and/or sexual assault, child protective services, hate crimes, information about orders of relief (restraining orders for abuse or stalking, court orders, etc.), youth shelters, etc.
​
CSP Youth Shelter: Crisis Shelter and Counseling for Youth 11 to 17 --- (949) 494-4311
CSP Youth Services: Juvenile Diversion - Counseling, Restitution and Legal Awareness Workshops --- (949) 250-0488
PATH Program - Substance Abuse Prevention and Education, Speakers Bureau --- (949) 757-1096
CSP Victim Assistance Programs: Victim/Witness Assistance Program - Support Services for Victims of Crime