School Climate and Safety Resources for Parents
There are multiple ways to report sexual assault:
- Call the Montgomery County Hotline at 240-777-4357 or 301-738-2255 (EveryMind). A trained staff member or volunteer will provide supportive listening and information, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students may text the EveryMind hotline telephone number every day, available between noon and midnight.
- Families or students may contact the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP) for support. VASAP provides information and referrals, advocacy, as well as crisis and ongoing counseling for victims of sexual assault.
- Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line is an anonymous reporting system used to report threats to the safety and/or well-being of students. Call 1-833-MD-B-SAFE or download the app.
- If you or your child have information regarding an alleged sexual assault, you may notify the Montgomery County Police Department immediately by calling 301-279-8000.
- Parents and students may report any bullying or harassment to MCPS by completing MCPS Form 230-35, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form. This form may be submitted to the principal or any school staff.
In addition to the resources listed above, the following offices within MCPS can provide support:
- MCPS school psychologists can be contacted by calling the assigned school, or by contacting Dr. Christina N. Conolly, Director of Psychological Services at 240-740-5640 or Christina_N_Connolly@mcpsmd.org. More on MCPS school psychologists here.
- The MCPS Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement (OSFSE) oversees MCPS services and programs needed to promote positive school cultures and advance the academic, physical, social and psychological well-being of every student. You can call the office at (240) 740-5630 or reach out to Ruschelle Reuben (Ruschelle_Reuben@mcpsmd.org) or Everett Davis (Everett_M_Davis@mcpsmd.org).
- The MCPS Office of Student Welfare and Compliance works collaboratively with schools, the Office of the General Counsel and other MCPS offices, and community agencies to ensure consistency and coherence with implementation of policies, regulations, and guidelines, such as issues related to human relations; bullying, harassment (including Title IX sexual harassment), and intimidation; recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect; and gender identity. You can call (240) 740-3215 or email COS-StudentWelfare@mcpsmd.org or reach out directly to Greg Edmundson (Gregory_S_Edmundson@mcpsmd.org)
Keep the communication lines open with your kids.
Here are some resources:
- Washington Post: Sexual harassment among teens is pervasive. Here's how parents can change that. "Most parents have failed to address and prevent misogyny and sexual harassment in their children’s lives: 76 percent of survey respondents reported that they never had a conversation with parents about how to avoid sexually harassing others. Similar majorities had never had conversations with their parents about various forms of misogyny."
- Harvard School of Education, Making Caring Common Project: The Talk: How Adults Can Promote Young People's Healthy Relationships and Prevent Misogyny and Sexual Harassment.
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center: 6 Resources to Help Parents Talk about Consent
Drop here!
Safe Schools Maryland - An ANONYMOUS and FREE reporting system available to students, teachers, school staff members, parents, and the general public to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns. Safe Schools Maryland operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Your anonymous report can also be submitted by calling the tip line (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233)
