Bullying Prevention and Awareness
Contributing author: Kim Brown, Broward County Schools, Florida
This month, across the world, from New York to New Zealand, thousands of schools, communities, organizations, and individuals will come together to release new resources, campaigns, and efforts aimed at raising awareness for bullying prevention. Nearly a decade old, Bullying Prevention Awareness month was initiated by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in October 2006. Since it began, the event has grown to an entire month of education and awareness activities, and is being recognized by schools and communities throughout the world. PACER recognized that students, parents, and people around the world need to become more aware of the serious consequences of bullying. “National Bullying Prevention Month has grown more than we could have ever expected,” said Paula Goldberg, PACER’s executive director. “In less than 10 years, PACER has helped to create a bullying prevention movement with millions of individuals across the globe.” PACER developed National Bullying Prevention Month to raise awareness and also to change the culture around bullying, which was historically considered a childhood rite of passage. “We know that bullying can lead to school avoidance, decreased self-esteem, depression, and even self-harm,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “Bullying intervention and prevention is something in which everyone can play an important role.” This year Bullying Prevention Awareness month features many new initiatives:
- The You’re Not Alone campaign provides resources and education on ways that communities can show they care and are united together against bullying.
- PACER has created classroom and event toolkits to help raise awareness and provide support for those who have been bullying.
- On Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 19, students, educators, families, TV personalities, and others will wear orange to make it end, hold events, and share stories, photos, and videos on social media. Thousands of people will wear the official 2016 Unity Day t-shirt and schools across the country will display the Unity Day poster and hold events.
- PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center has created an array of innovative resources for students, educators, families, and communities, which are available on its three websites: PACER.org/bullying, PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org.
- Consider a donation. Please consider donating to the National Association of Peer Program Professionals. It is tax deductible as NAPPP is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Much is needed to support the mission of the organization. NAPPP helps adults establish, train, supervise, maintain, and evaluate peer programs. NAPPP members are the driving force for positive Youth Development. Peers helping Peers can be more effectively accomplished with adults that follow the NAPPP Programmatic Standards. In order to accomplish our mission, NAPPP needs funds to support the operation as well as inform others about NAPPP Programmatic Standards and Ethics. Please send your tax deductible contribution to 58 Portwest Court, St. Charles, MO 63303
- PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org. Videos, classroom toolkits, free bookmarks, posters, and other tools can be used to prevent bullying all year long.
Also, check out Broward County, Florida guide for their peer counseling programs. They have created monthly themes and October is Cooperation Month through Character Education Responsibility.
Broward Prevention
Conflict Resolution Day
Contributing Author: Online Peer Mediation Platform
Funded by the JAMS Foundation, the Online Peer Mediation Platform (OPMP) is a 2-year innovative project for colleges, elementary, middle and high schools. OPMP is currently managed by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals, and was previously managed by the Association for Conflict Resolution Education, Research and Training Section.
Join us on October 20, 2016 @ 4:00 P.M. EST for a free 30-min webinar. OPMP Team Members will share information regarding resources that colleges and schools can use with their students and staff members. As a bonus, we will also preview our Conflict Resolution Modules on Basic Conflict Resolution that we will roll out in November.
SIGN UP To register online, fill out this Online Registration Form. You'll automatically receive information on how to attend our webinar with your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android tablet or smartphone.
Register online https://goo.gl/KQZBwl
Red Ribbon Week
October 24th-October 31st
This year's slogan is YOLO: You Only Live Once. For activities, download the Red Ribbon kit here.
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