One-Year Anniversary of Wisconsin's Speak Up, Speak Out Resource Center

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 -- 8:00 AM

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety will mark the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Speak Up, Speak Out Resource Center on September 1st.

SUSO is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important concerns, offering a Threat Reporting System, Threat Assessment Consultation, Critical Incident Response and General School Safety Guidance.

“Over the past two years, SUSO has helped keep students in Wisconsin safe,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “With state funding, we can keep this successful program in place for years to come.” Since its inception, the SUSO tip line has aided 438 different Wisconsin schools with at least one tip.

Between September 1, 2021, and August 17, 2022, SUSO contacted 229 different Wisconsin schools regarding a potential tip. In the same time frame, SUSO delivered at least one tip to 74 different law enforcement agencies.

The most common tip category in the past year has been bullying. OSS was initially supported by more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.

OSS is currently supported by more than $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding which will end in December of 2023. DOJ will be requesting the legislature permanently fund OSS in the next biennial budget.

Hope Cameron, the Dean of Students at Horace Mann Wausau School District said, “SUSO has enabled our students to share concerns regarding peers leading to our staff checking in and supporting those students that are demonstrating concerning behavior and others in the situation. It has allowed us to follow through with our promise to keep our school environment safe and show our community that school safety is a priority.”

Students, parents, school staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via the SUSO website, mobile phone application, or toll-free number.

SUSO Reports can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Online at speakup.widoj.gov, 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 (1-800-697-8761), Mobile app (iOS/Android).

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.