Ida B. Wells High School

Dear PPS Community, 

This summer, youth gun violence has increased throughout the country and in the city of Portland.    This year 729 shootings have occurred throughout the Portland area, impacting PPS students, families, and entire school communities. This is traumatic for all and we encourage you to support one another and anyone impacted by gun violence in our community.

Youth gun violence prevention needs to be a highly leveraged and community coordinated strategy to keep students safe. We know that effective communication, engagement, and coordination between PPS, our partners, public safety agencies, and service providers are important pieces in our prevention efforts.  

Here are a few things you can do at home to support your students:

• Share factual information with students, stay away from rumors or unsubstantiated news.
• Make space for students to share their feelings.
• Help students develop skills of resilience.
• Take time for self care so that you can support those around you.  

Most importantly, let students know there are specific resources to support community members impacted by violence.  Below is a list of additional community resources.

City of Portland Office of Violence Prevention (interpretation services available)

• Trauma and Violence Impacted Family Program: Wraparound services for youth and families impacted by community violence.
• Youth Referral Form  
• Point of Contact: Hiag Brown, hbrown@portlandoic.org, and by phone at:  (503)757-0250  
• Street Level Outreach (SLO) Program: SLOs build relationships with youth and their families to reduce conflict and violence, to support and assist accessing social and educational services, providing the following services: mentors, life coaches, positive role models, advocates, and mediators. 
• Point of Contact: Mustafa Washington, Mustafa.washington@portlandoregon.gov, by phone   503-823-6521. 

Multnomah County has mental health support for those impacted by gun violence. (interpretation services available)

Multnomah County's Gun Violence Impacted Families Behavioral Health Response Team has therapists of Color (African American, African-Immigrant, and Latinx) to support and uplift the mental health of community members impacted by violence. To find out more about this program and how they can help, please reach out via phone at 503.988.4888 or via email at gvbhrt@mulco.us.

PPS Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ)  Culturally Specific Partners who offer Wrap Around Supports:

POIC  - mentor@portlandoic.org

NAYA - richh@nayapdx.org

IRCO - youth@irco.org

Latino Network - ximena@latnet.org

Additionally, PPS continues to offer a robust set of summer academic and enrichment programming free for PPS families and students.

Lines for Life (interpretation services available)

Racial Equity Support Line staffed by and for people of Color.
503.575.3764

Multnomah County Call Center (interpretation services available)

Multco Crisis Line is still open 24/7 and has a mobile response option as well.
503.988.4888

Be Smart for Kids firearm safety information

Be Smart For Kids Organization (information in English and Spanish)

Secure firearm storage is an essential part of home safety for parents and caregivers to protect children.

Thank you,

Office of Student Support Services