As summer winds down and students across the country prepare for another school year, I know you're busy preparing, too. You're looking for ways to support those students in your schools and communities, with all the passion and belief that great educators bring to their work.
But when young people feel isolated and invisible, it can be difficult to know how to help – especially if you're tackling that work on your own. And at every school, in every community, there are children quietly suffering, who may be a danger to themselves or others.
With programs like Start With Hello, we can support each other in building positive school cultures where students and teachers work together to make sure every member of their community feels valued and seen. That's why I hope you'll sign up for this year's Start With Hello Week, happening Sept. 23-27.
Sandy Hook Promise provides all the materials and guidance you need, so you can implement this lifesaving program at no cost thanks to the generosity of our donors.
One of my favorite stories from last year's Start With Hello Week came from Warren Harding High School. A teacher there said of the program:
"I was impacted by the reactions of my students to the child who – when asked [anonymously] about a time when they felt lonely, excluded, shut out, isolated, passed over, invisible or ignored – simply wrote 'now.' ... Without fail, the pervading response [from my students] was to act now to make sure that no one would leave the room that day feeling that way! Their actions gave me new hope."
We've seen the difference Start With Hello Week makes – it literally helps save lives – and that's why we're committed to bringing it to every school free of charge. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to bring this program to your community and start your school year on a welcoming, inclusive note.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions about bringing Start With Hello Week to your community – and thank you for your commitment to building a safer, more inclusive world for our children.
Paula Fynboh
Vice President, Program Delivery & Sustainability
Vice President, Program Delivery & Sustainability
In a newly released report by the U.S. State Department, the United States (along with Mexico and the Philippines), ranks among the top three worst countries in the world for human trafficking—including the sex trafficking of minors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warns that more than 300,000 of our nation’s youth are considered at risk for sexual exploitation annually.
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