Prepare Your School for Guardian Notifications
GoGuardian Beacon includes a Guardian Notifications feature that schools and districts can enable after school hours. When enabled, Beacon sends email notifications to parents and guardians when an alert is generated. Before enabling Guardian Notifications:- Review the Guardian Notifications configuration article for setup instructions.
- Confirm that guardian contact information is uploaded and linked to students in the Guardians tab.
- Train all staff who may receive questions from families about Beacon notifications.
Prepare Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians who receive a Beacon notification need context to respond appropriately. Before enabling Guardian Notifications, ensure parents and guardians:- Know how to update your school or district with changes to contact information or educational rights
- Know their relationship to the student and who to contact at the school
- Understand that a notification indicates a concern that school staff are already aware of and are addressing
- Know where to find additional resources if they or their student need support
Prepare parents and guardians before you enable Guardian Notifications for the first time. Regularly remind existing families and provide this information to new families of transferred students.
Educate Families About Suicide Prevention
Providing parents and guardians with suicide prevention education strengthens your school’s broader safety program. The following resources support parent and guardian training on identifying warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors:- AFSP More Than Sad Training — Training for parents on youth suicide prevention
- Model School District Policy for Suicide Prevention — Includes a section on parental notification and involvement
- GoGuardian Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Resource Page — Additional resources for schools and families
Resources
About GoGuardian Beacon
Overview of Beacon and how schools use it.
Initial Setup Checklist
Complete setup steps for Beacon Starter, including the optional Guardians step.
How Beacon Works
Review the detection process and alert contents.
Beacon Glossary
Definitions for key Beacon terms.