Safe Schools & Healthy Students

The Safe Schools and Healthy Students Program provides Student Threat Assessment and a host of other prevention and intervention services to schools, children, youth, and their families in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties.

Many of these services are provided by Family Support Advocates (FSAs), Master’s level professionals with backgrounds in counseling, education, or social work.

When students and their families face roadblocks to school and life success, FSAs can team with schools in providing targeted supports and services both to students and to their families.

School counselors, school administrators, school teams, and multi-agency teams all have the ability to quickly refer students and families for FSA service with very little paperwork involved.  Your FSA can assist you in making a referral for services.

Program staff provides student threat assessment services to help schools manage students or situations of concern.

Districts obtain FSA services and threat assessment services using the annual WESD Resolution Process.  Program staff will work closely with district and school administrators to make sure program services are tailored to each district’s specific needs.

Other Services Provided

The Safe Schools and Healthy Students Program, in partnership with the Marion County Health Department, Polk County Mental Health, and the Salem-Keizer School District, has produced a handbook for school counselors and administrators to use in Responding to Potentially Suicidal Youth.

The staff in this program take a major role in planning the Summit on Community and School Safety, an annual conference on safety related topics for professionals and youth across the state.