Safe and Humane Schools Task Force
Schools are a core ecological setting for children and youth in our communities, and their role in the development of students goes well beyond imparting knowledge and teaching various curricula. Relaunched in 2020, the Safe and Humane Schools Task Force grapples with issues within schools that fall in the intersection of behavioral health, social justice, and human rights.
Issues and topics of interest for our interdisciplinary task force members include: school mental health and suicide prevention; the implications of school security measures (e.g., school resource officers, metal detectors) and school shooter drills; bullying and school violence prevention; disproportionate disciplinary practices; trauma-sensitive strategies; and responsiveness to youth who are transgender.
If you have questions regarding the task force, please contact us at gro.e1715538322citsu1715538322jhb@e1715538322crofk1715538322sat1715538322.
Task Force Chair
Gita Jaffe, PhD
Director of Policy & Programming
Global Alliance
In the Works
- Development of A Blueprint Toward Youth Mental Wellness: A Whole-Community Approach to Supporting our Schools
What We’ve Worked On
Since our task force relaunch in the 3rd quarter of 2020, the Safe and Humane Schools Task Force has worked on some important visionary pieces:
- Resolution on Safe Schools: Addressing Violence Prevention and Gun Violence (October 2021)
- Statement on Children Returning to In-person School (August 2021)
- #GADocsTalks Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Youth Well-Being in the Digital World: The Role of Schools and Communities (May 2021)
- Recommendations for the incoming Biden-Harris administration (January 2021)
- Conference Presentation: Safe and Humane Schools: Foci and Future Directions (October 2020)
- Supporting Schools in Our Communities
The Global Alliance has a long history of action and advocacy on behalf of children. Some highlights of work produced by predecessors of the Safe and Humane Schools Task Force in the last 15 years and the broader association of the Global Alliance include:
- The work of the Boys of Color Collaborative
- A focus on Bullying Prevention
- Position Paper: Safe and Humane Schools: Violence Prevention (March 2015)
- Position Paper: Safe and Human Schools: Places of Community (March 2015)
related research
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Get Involved
The Safe and Humane Schools Task Force is always accepting new members who share our passion and vision. If you are already a member of the Global Alliance, you are invited to attend one of our regular Zoom meetings at any time. If you are not yet a member of the Global Alliance, visit our membership page to join today.
Even if you are not a member of the task force, we encourage you to follow and share our work and to attend events sponsored by the Safe and Humane Schools Task Force.
Safe & Humane Schools