Subject: corrected version
From: "Reis, Beth" <Beth.Reis@kingcounty.gov>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:14:47 -0700
To: IMPORTANTNEWS@safeschoolscoalition.org
Dear Safe Schools Coalition Members and Friends:
 
Apologies for the dead links in the earlier version.
 
(1) For your school's attorney & board: A new campaign on behalf of LGBTQ in foster care from the American Bar Association, "The Kids Are Listening"
(2) Guidance on School Law & Policy from the Safe Schools Coalition's web site
(3) Washington State Law Quiz (regarding LGBTQ issues in schools)
(4) Model Bullying Policy and Procedure & new requirements of districts in WA state
 
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(1) For your school's attorney & board: A new campaign on behalf of LGBTQ in foster care from the American Bar Association, "The Kids Are Listening"
 
Dear Friends,
 
I am excited to share with you the launch of our new video and web campaign, "The Kids Are Listening."
 
This campaign on behalf of LGBTQ youth in foster is the first of its kind in the nation and offers free online resources and support to legal and social services professionals - from judges to children's attorneys and social services personnel - who are involved in the foster care community.
 
Via the online video, "The Kids are Listening" campaign encourages people of all ages and walks of life to standup to hate speech and discrimination of LGBTQ youth. "The Kids are Listening" video and resources are available for free at http://thekidsarelistening.org <http://thekidsarelistening.org/> . We also hope you will "Like" us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/KidsAreListening>  and Follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/kidsrlistening> .
 
A growing coalition of support is coming from major organizations across the nation including the Anti-Defamation League, Cartoon Network, the Child Welfare League of America, the It Gets Better Project (created by syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage), the Safe Schools Coalition, Healthy Teens Network, the National Association of Counsel for Children, the National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the American Humane Association, the National Black Justice Coalition, Stop Bullying Now! (a federal program run by the Health Resources and Services Administration), and many others.
 
"The Kids are Listening" campaign is part of the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law's Opening Doors Project, which was created in 2005 to increase the legal community's awareness of LGBTQ youth in foster care and the unique issues they face and to provide the legal community with advocacy tools to successfully represent these youth.
 
We hope you will take a moment to view the website and video and share this with others committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ and ALL young people in foster care and in our communities.
 
Together we can Stop Bullying, Stop Discrimination and Make It Better Today!
 
Garry I. Bevel
Staff Attorney - ABA Center on Children and the Law
Opening Doors for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care
740 15th ST NW. Washington, DC. 20009
(office) 202.662.1749 (fax) 202.662.1755
Garry.Bevel@americanbar.org
thekidsarelistening.org
facebook.com/KidsAreListening
twitter.com/KidsRlistening
Join us in DC for these upcoming Summer Conferences:
2nd National Parent Attorneys Conference (July 13-14)
14th ABA National Conference on Children and the Law( July 15-16)
 
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(2) Guidance on School Law & Policy from the Safe Schools Coalition's web site
 
Go to: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-law_policy_guidance.html
 
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(3) Washington State Law Quiz (regarding LGBTQ issues in schools)
 
Go to: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/lawquiz/index.html
 
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(4) Model Bullying Policy and Procedure & new requirements of districts in WA state
 
In 2010, the Washington State legislature passed a law requiring the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (known as OSPI), the Washington State School Directors Association (the professional org for school board members), and the Office of the Education Ombudsman to work with stakeholders to revise the state's model policy and create a model procedure to better address harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) in schools. By August 1, 2011, school districts are required under this same law, to adopt or amend HIB policies and procedures at least as protective as the state's new models and to appoint a person to coordinate that district's efforts to reduce HIB.
 
December 2010 Washington State Model Anti-Bullying Policy: Policy No. 3207 Students - Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/Anti-BullyingPolicyFinal-WA-12-1-10.pdf (pdf format)
December 2010 Washington State Model Anti-Bullying Procedure: Procedure No. 3207P Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/Anti-BullyingProcedure-Final-%20WA-12-1-2010.pdf (pdf format)
 
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The Safe Schools Coalition is a public-private partnership of 60+ organizations (government agencies, schools, community agencies, churches, youth/student groups, gay/lesbian groups, human rights groups) and 100+ individuals working to help schools become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn,  regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
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Got a problem at school with anti-gay harassment?
In Washington State:
1-877-SAFE-SAFE  (1-877-723-3723) 24 hours a day - the phone line is answered at the Sexual Assault Hotline and they will have a Safe Schools Coalition Intervention Specialist volunteer get back to you within 24 hours. Or contact us by email:  Intervention:  http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/contact/?id=10 and we will respond within 24 hours.
 
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Co-Chairs:
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Beth Reis, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 206-296-4970.
Heather Murphy, Ph.D., school psychologist.
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Listserv Managers: 
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