PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro is releasing the TeenTALK Report—a resource guide for students, parents, and educators with recommendations for preventing and intervening in bullying. The report summarizes the feedback gathered during the TeenTALK sessions hosted by the Attorney General’s Office throughout the Commonwealth during the 2018-19 school year. The students who participated in the TeenTALKs outlined three focus areas where improvement is needed regarding bullying prevention and mental health services in schools. They are: student mental health services staffing, data reporting gaps, and funding to support bullying prevention, mental health programs and other positive climate initiatives. Some of the recommendations include expanding mechanisms for students to report school climate and safety concerns, implementing trainings for staff to learn prevention and intervention techniques, and establishing a consistent policy for investigating reports of bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment.

In January 2019, the Office of Attorney General began operating the Safe2Say Something anonymous reporting system, and students who participated in the TeenTALKs praised the program as an appropriate way to bring concerns to adults who could intervene.

The full report can be read by clicking here.