SAFE OFFICE
Meredith Griffin, LCSW Safe Coordinator
407-816-5649
[email protected]
Room 620
S.A.F.E.: Student Assistance and Family Empowerment – Room 620
SAFE Coordinator: Meredith Griffin, 407-816-5649 ext. 608-5649 - meredith.griffin@ocps.net
Mental Health Social Worker: Abbey Dudash, 407-816-5600 ext. 608-2366 – [email protected]
Purpose
The Student Assistance and Family Empowerment Program, SAFE, offers direct help and resources for students and families. SAFE also offers students a confidential and comfortable place to go if students need someone to talk to or need help resolving their problems. The SAFE office has a Patriot Pantry with supplemental food, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and clothing.
The goal of the SAFE Program is to assist in making school campuses safe and drug free so all students have the opportunity to be successful in school.
SAFE Program interventions are:
· Preventative- provide educational information to teachers, students and families, facilitate drug and alcohol prevention activities and presentations, work with at-risk students, etc.
· Supportive- Facilitate support groups, work with students and families so that the student is able to remain in school, refer students to other agencies as necessary
· Responsive- assist with peer mediation, suspected drug/alcohol use, abuse/neglect issues, crisis response, etc.
The SAFE Coordinator meets with students, their families, school faculty / staff, and community service agencies. The interventions are generally brief and short-term as they are meant to support the student's academics. Additionally, the SAFE office can refer out for ongoing therapeutic interventions.
How to Access SAFE
Referrals to SAFE usually arrive by:
- Parents referring their children
- Other students referring their friends
- Students referring themselves
- Teachers and other school staff members referring a student
Additional Resources:
Informed Families - Helping Kids Grow Up Safe, Healthy, and Drug Free
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Harbor House of Central Florida
Love is Respect - Healthy Relationships/Avoiding Abuse
HelpGuide - Information on Self-Injury
KidsHealth - Children's Health & Development
Helpful Hotlines
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Speak-Out Hotline
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To report anonymous tips
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1-800-423-TIPS (8477)
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Lifeline of Central Florida
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To report any crisis 24 hours a day
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407-425-2624
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Suicide Prevention
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To report and prevent suicide
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1-800-273-TALK (8255)
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Child Abuse
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To report child abuse and neglect
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1-800-962-2873
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Great Oaks Youth Shelter
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To report out-of-control, runaway,
and/ or homeless youth
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407-836-7626
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The SAFE office has the ability to receive pantry item donations year round. If you or your family would like to access the pantry or if you have items that you would like to donate please contact the SAFE Coordinator, Meredith Griffin, at (407) 816-5649 or email.
Thank you for your support of our students and families!
