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The Mission of Counselors Not Cops:

We stand for the equitable treatment of all students in Memphis schools and the end to the School to Prison Pipeline, which disproportionately impacts Black and Brown youth. To make this happen, we are fighting for the reallocation of funds from the Sheriff's Department and School Resource Officers towards counselors, mental health support, and restorative justice practices.
Our ask to Shelby County Schools and Commissioners
Get the Facts

Call to action:

1. SEND A LETTER TODAY:
We need as many letters as possible to Shelby County Schools and the Shelby County Government asking them to reallocation funds to mental health and away from School Resource Officers! Click below to send a letter today!
Send a Letter to Our school Board and County Government
2. GET EDUCATED on this issue (and get your friends educated too!)
Attend our Counselors Not Cops Interest Meeting on March 15th 6-7pm.
Sign up for the Counselors Not Cops Interest Meeting
3. SHARE YOUR WHY for supporting Counselors Not Cops: and checkout the why behind others in the Testimonial Section below.
Share your WHY for Supporting Counselors Not Cops


​
Testimonials:

Listen to WHY Memphians supporting Counselors Not Cops.  
​

Listen To why Youth Support Counselors Not Cops

Listen To why Teachers  Support Counselors Not Cops

Listen To why CounselOrs & Health Professionals Support Counselors Not Cops

Listen To why Parents Support Counselors Not Cops

Listen To why Community & Church Leaders  Support Counselors Not Cops

Why we're asking for counselors, not cops:

The term "school resource officer" (SRO) can include police officers, sheriff’s deputies, private security, and district-employed security. SCS mostly uses district-employed SROs and a few deputies. Although these officers cannot use guns on school property, they do carry pepper spray.
​
During the 2019-2020 school year, 18 SROs were deputies paid for by the Sheriff’s Office. For that year, the district allowed for up to 36 deputies. $5.1 million is spent on about 130 in-house SROS. This is included in the $14 million budget that the district has allocated toward security measures. 
​

According to the School Social Work Association of America, social work services should also be provided at a ratio of  250 students  to one social worker. 

Shelby County's average ratio is 414 students to one social worker.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends a ratio of 500-700 students per school psychologist.

Shelby County's average ratio is 3,475 students to one psychologist. School psychologists are usually the staff most qualified to assess a student’s safety risk to themselves and others

Several states, along with the American Nurses Association, recommend a ratio of one school nurse to 750 students in healthy student populations. 

Shelby County's average ratio is 1,207 students to one nurse. ​This is worse than Tennessee's average.

Learn more about policing and student health in schools:

Get the Facts
Picture
(Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, 2015-2016 Civil Rights Data Collection)

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About

We are 15 youth organizers working to make systematic change in Memphis around issues of social activism.

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  • Home
  • Our Work
    • Counselors Not Cops >
      • The Facts
    • Memphis Against Sexual Harassment & Assault
    • ICONIC Classrooms >
      • ICONIC Pledge
      • ICONIC Resources
      • Inclusive Classrooms Hall of Fame
      • Get Involved
    • Brave, Safe, & Educated Spaces >
      • Get Involved
      • BSE Spaces
    • Mental Health Needs More
    • Shelby County Youth Council
  • Get Involved
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CHAlumnix
  • Archive
    • Recent (2019-2020 Year)
    • Cohorts >
      • EDJ
      • GAS
      • MASHA >
        • Survivor Power Coffee Hours
      • MemYU
      • Adult Support
  • For CHANGE Fellows and SCYC Members
    • Resources >
      • Institute Binder
    • For SCYC Members >
      • Attendance Policy
      • Public Commissioner Contact Info
    • For CHANGE Fellows >
      • CHANGE Committees
    • For Advisers