Helping kids futures after trauma

Hi, My name is Malea Tesseneer and I am a student at Bozeman High School, in the summer of 2017 I was going into my Junior year when my brother died in a snowboarding accident, I was the only one there. This day changed my life forever. Because of this trauma I was suggested to visit BHS's SAFE-TI program. I knew very little about it, my only experience was being in the class across the hall from the SAFE-TI room and seeing all the “sketchy kids” go there. So when my counselor suggested it to me I was a little hesitant. At first I was very unsure about SAFE-TI I thought it was for kids with “problems,” little did I know I was a kid with lot of problems. The first day I visited SAFE-TI I was introduced to Mr. M, we talked a little about what SAFE-TI was and how it could help me. Mr. M wanted me to join a group that would meet one period a week, with a few other kids so we could talk about things we were going through. I went, it was a little weird at first, but over time it quickly became the best day of my week. I love the other people I was with and I love Mr. M.  Mr. M asked if I wanted to meet with him separately once a week, I was totally in. We began breaking down life as it was, my everyday life and the things that had happened in my past. two years later its still my favorite day of the week and I have made a new best friend (Mr. M). I have learned more from safety than I have from high school. I don't know where I would be without the help I have gotten from Mr. M and SAFE-TI, I don't even know if I would be here. I still have a lot to learn and I am so thankful for the friendships I have made with the people in SAFE-TI. Not only has the SAFE-TI program changed my life but also over 500  other students who attend BHS and are in the SAFE-TI program for reasons like mine. Without SAFE-TI we would have to face our daily challenges alone, and this would be impossible. I do not have the words to explain the importance of this program however I can say it saves lives, mine for example. SAFE-TI stands for School And Family Engagement- Trauma Informed.  Please help fund the SAFE-TI program at BHS, right now the program will no longer be continued due to lack of funding.  Please help insure kids will be receiving the care and mental help they need to have a successful future. Thank You