News Article

"Be Awkward... Ask." 

This isn't just a tagline—it's a life-saving message from our community. The Office of School Safety is proud to support Larimer County's campaign to reduce gun violence among young people.

Our hearts go out to the victims, students, staff and community in Evergreen. The staff at the Office of School Safety would like to remind parents to limit the amount of coverage your children see in the media about this event.  You will want to answer their questions in a developmentally appropriate manner and reassure them that their schools are considering their safety every single day. Many children will need extra assurance from adults in their lives.  Thank you!

Encouraging news from The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

The suicide rate for youth ages 10 to 18 has fallen to its lowest point since 2007. In 2024, the rate was 5.85 deaths per 100,000 youth, a significant decrease from the peak rate of 12.91 in 2020.

Join us for the annual Youth Suicide Prevention Symposium!

Hosted by the Colorado Office of School Safety and the Office of Suicide Prevention at CDPHE, this year’s symposium will take place in person on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, at the Lowry Conference Center in Denver.

This is a critical opportunity for professionals to gain insights from leading experts in the field. Our confirmed keynote speakers include:

Attention all mandatory reporters in Colorado!

The Mandatory Reporter Training WBT has been newly redesigned and updated to align with the changes to Colorado's mandatory reporting laws in 2025. This two-hour training is crucial for understanding your responsibilities and making informed decisions.

What's New?

September Newsletter Highlights
 

The School Safety Working Group has completed its State partner resource guide

The School Safety Working Group (SSWG), a collaboration of state agencies, completed its legislatively mandated work. The group's mission was to enhance school safety through the effective use of public resources. This important work was guided by feedback from the 2019 state auditor's report and legislative mandates from SB20-023 and HB22-1274

The Office of School Safety Announces Enhanced School Safety Incident Response (ESSIR) Grant Program

The New Law Takes Effect Sept. 1

The Colorado Office of School Safety (OSS) is highlighting a new state law that changes how and when suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported. The law, which takes effect on September 1, impacts educators and other mandatory reporters.

To help school professionals understand the new requirements, we're promoting a comprehensive guide from Chalkbeat, titled "Colorado has a new child abuse reporting law. Here’s a guide for educators on the new requirements."

The new law: