One Year Anniversary of the Crime Stoppers Newsletter!

It’s been ONE year since our first newsletter and we are excited to celebrate it with another great newsletter. This month we are focusing on our newly updated Campus Crime Stoppers Operational Manual, the Awareness & Engagement Google site, contact information and staff trainings, and finishing off with information about National Suicide Prevention Month as well as information about the One Safe Place Invitational and Partee! Thank you for tuning in each month and we are glad you’re here to help us celebrate our newsletter’s one year anniversary!
Self-Care 469Tip of the Month

Celebrating the Little Things!

Watch this quick one-minute video from the University of Minnesota Extension about celebrating the small stuff!
Campus Crime Stoppers
Operational Manual
We are extremely excited to share our new and improved Campus Crime Stoppers Operational Manual. This manual is your go-to-guide for various Campus Crime Stoppers (CCS) topics.

This manual provides an in-depth look at what the program is, how the program operates, answers many frequently asked questions about program implementation and maintenance, and gives your team multiple ways to engage your school’s students, staff, and parents. Please click on the image to download your own copy of the CCS Operational Manual and/or visit our Awareness & Engagement Google site to view it there.
Awareness & Engagement Google Site
We’ve worked hard over this summer to put together a Google Site that will serve as a resource hub for all information you may need for Campus Crime Stoppers and/or Friends for Life, including an Awareness & Engagement Checklist, program flyers, completely updated Operational Manual, P3 User Guide, samples of engagement and awareness materials, our QR code, and links to forms, the website, and social media.

To access the Google Site and its plethora of resources, please visit this link: https://sites.google.com/onesafeplace.org/ccsffl-engagement/home. As we create and develop more resource items we will update the Google site and provide notices.
Staff Training & Back-to-School
Schedule a training presentation with us! We are ready to provide you and your staff with training on the CCS/FFL programs. We are currently offering training for your staff either in-person or through Zoom and will modify the training to fit the timeframe in which you have available. Staff training is a vital piece to the Back-to-School process and we look forward to providing your staff with the necessary education to gain the full potential of the CCS/FFL programs. Please contact Rachel for more details and scheduling.
In order to help you and your school get started with the new school year we have created a Back-to-School Checklist! This list provides you with all the basic necessary actions that your school should take in order to be properly set up and integrated into the CCS/FFL programs. Click on the image to download your own version of the checklist and/or visit our Awareness & Engagement Google site to view it there.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month! This month is a way to come together as a community to raise awareness of suicide and the impacts it has on families, friends, and communities as well as providing resources and sharing stories. 

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for those 10-24 years of age.1 While suicide did not increase during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide ideation did.2 It is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put individuals at risk of developing risk factors related to suicide risk, especially those already living with mental health disorders.2

Suicide is not an easy issue to handle as a bystander, below are 5 steps that can help you and those in your community address a situation involving a suicidal friend, family member, peer, colleague, or loved one 3:

  1. Ask - Don’t be afraid to ask upfront questions about their feelings of suicide (e.g., “Are you thinking about suicide?”; “How can I help?”). This communicates that you're open to speaking about suicidal thoughts in a supportive way. 
  2. Be There - Be physically present for someone, talk with them on the phone, or make any meaningful gesture to show that you’re there to support them in their time of need. However, make sure you follow through with your support
  3. Keep Them Safe - Once you’ve completed step number one, make sure you’re taking the appropriate actions to keep them safe (e.g., limit access to lethal means, don’t leave them alone, call for help, submit a report through Friends for Life).
  4. Help Them Connect - Provide them with the right resources or help them explore options for professional help.
  5. Follow Up - Use this step to check-in with them to see if they followed through on any plans made and/or if you can provide any additional help.

We hope you use this month to reflect on what you can do in your community to help those around you who may be at-risk for suicide or simply checking in on your loved ones. Don’t be afraid to have frank conversations about mental health and well-being, it could save a life.

Friends for Life is a program of Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County that is equipped to take anonymous tips on suicidal ideation/thoughts. If you know someone who has expressed unsettling suicidal thoughts, ideas, or tendencies, we encourage you to send in an anonymous tip by calling 817-469-8477, going to our website, or using our “CCS FFL” mobile app. As an assurance, the anonymity of tips are protected by State law. We are not a crisis line and if you or someone you know is experiencing a suicide emergency please call 911 or the MHMR of Tarrant County Hotline at 817-335-3022.
How to Promote Suicide Prevention Month:

  • Like, comment, and share this graphic which is posted on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

  • Download the graphic above and use it on your social media, email newsletters, and/or websites. 

  • Use the hashtag #BeThe1To on all your posts related to suicide prevention and awareness.

  • Visit our website to learn about and share the listed suicide prevention resources.

  • For our school personnel, please visit our website to use our Friends for Life poster by clicking here or by clicking the “Friends for Life Poster - Self Harm” link on the page.

  • Friends for Life promotional material for your campus is available on request.
Quick Resources:

  • 3840 Hulen St., North Tower, Fort Worth, TX 76107
  • 24-Hr Crisis Line: 817-335-3022
  • Main Line: 817-569-4300

  • 1-800-273-8255
  • Deaf & Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889
One Safe Place Invitational & Partee!
One Safe Place is happy to announce its 11th annual Invitational & Partee!
Click the image below to learn more about this great event and how you can attend and/or become a sponsor!

For more information please reach out to
Felipe Gutierrez - VP, Development & Engagement
Follow Us!
Please feel free to follow us on all of our social media!

If your organization, school, or agency has social media pages please have them follow us and we will be sure to follow back!!
If you know of any other individuals, teams, or organizations that would like to be a part of this newsletter please do not hesitate to have them contact either Rachel or Julian so that they can be added to the email list.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns regarding Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County and our various programs please feel free to reach out to us at any time and we will respond in a timely manner.

Best regards,

Rachel Gilbert
Director, Special Programs

&

Julian Rangel
Engagement and Outreach Specialist

1100 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817-469-8477 | 469tips.com | "CCS FFL" & "P3Tips" mobile apps