This study, grounded in the theory of diffusion, used a qualitative phenomenological methodology to understand perspectives of parents and school personnel on the implementation of tiplines and/or reporting apps for school safety.
Barriers and facilitators for the development and successful implementation of Advocatr, a school-based tipline/reporting app were identified. Adult participants were recruited from four U.S. high schools. These participants attended one of three sets of focus groups (parents, staff, and administrators) at two time points (Wave 1: n = 56; Wave 2: n = 55). Results indicated that parents and school staff were primarily concerned about mental health as a school safety issue. Although many thought school tiplines could be useful, they identified improvements that could support its successful development and implementation, such as school-wide training and school climate improvement frameworks. Implications for practice, policy, and future research addressing school safety are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)