TEXT-A-TIP
Beginning January 17, District 117 students will be able to use text messaging to reach out for help for themselves or friends at any time of day or night. Text-a-Tip allows teens to find anonymous, immediate help if they are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, depression, difficult family situations, bullying, or any of the many challenges they face today. Text-A-Tip is staffed with local clinicians provided by LEAD (Linking Efforts Against Drugs), a non-profit organization focused on promoting healthy family relationships and preventing alcohol and drug use and other risky behaviors by youth.
Text-A-Tip works in one of two ways:
1. Anyone who texts “LAKECO” to 1-844-823-5323 will receive an immediate text response from a trained, professional counselor provided by LEAD. The response team consists of licensed/certified mental health professionals from The Child, Adolescent, and Family Recovery Center in Lake Bluff. They are local clinicians who already understand the needs of our communities.
2. Download the “Lake County Help” app and send a text directly through the app.
Thanks to a system that routes calls through a cloaking server, texters are completely anonymous, allowing teens freedom to reach out for help without fear. In the case of a life-threatening condition, emergency responders will be notified and be given as much information as is available to help the person in need. Text-A-Tip is available for communication of any kind of concern, though it is primarily intended for community members to use when they need immediate mental health assistance or have a drug/alcohol abuse concern for themselves or a friend. Please note that adults can also use the service to report concerns.
For information regarding Sexual Abuse and Prevention please refer to the ISBE Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide.
Learn more about Text-a-Tip in the video below: