Live, Online Training Opportunity:
Bullying Prevention in Urban Schools
On Thursday March 18, from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m., a live, online learning session for PA CARES and HALT! grantees will be held. The session, entitled Bullying Prevention in Urban Schools, is offered by the Center for Safe Schools through funding provided by Highmark Healthy High 5, an initiative of the Highmark Foundation.
The session will be facilitated by Ericka L. Washington, an urban educator and experienced Olweus Technical Assistance Consultant.
Participants in this session will:
- learn creative, practical strategies for implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in urban settings
- learn strategies for supporting safe, predictable learning environments by implementing a bullying prevention framework district-wide
- be prepared to decrease fragmentation among evidence-based programs by identifying linkages across programs
Following a 30-minute presentation, participants will have the opportunity to meet online with a Pennsylvania Olweus Technical Assistance Consultant (OTAC) to obtain general support with implementation issues related to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP). Legal questions related to specific issues in your schools will not be addressed.
If you are currently working in a PA CARES and HALT! school, please consider attending this session to learn about bullying and the law.
REGISTER NOW
Click here to register for this live, online session.
Act 48 Credits:
The Center for Schools and Communities, as a division of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, offers Act 48 professional development credit for those with Pennsylvania teaching or administrative certificates. Participants must attend the workshop from beginning to end, and provide their Professional ID numbers, to receive credit. A facilitator will distribute the Record of Attendance form at the beginning of the workshop and collect the required information upon completion of the workshop.
Click here to review archive of previously held bullying prevention online sessions
Online Bullying Prevention Course: “The ABCS of Bullying”
A new course offered by SAMHSA, examines the causes and effects of bullying, prevention techniques and programs, screening, treatment options and legal/ethical issues surrounding bullying. An important feature of this course is the use of case studies to teach and engage learners in reflecting on this important topic. The course is appropriate for educators, counselors and social workers who serve children and adolescents. Continuing Educations Units (CEUs) are available for these groups.
For more information or to access the course, click here.
Olweus Trainer Certification
Thank you for your interest in the PA CARES scholarship opportunity to attend the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) National Training for Certification. The scholarship application period is now closed. The selection of candidates for this OBPP trainer certification opportunity will be announced by Monday, February 15, 2010. Applicants not chosen for the scholarship, as well as individuals who did not apply for this scholarship opportunity, may still be able to attend this training at their own expense. Please visit the Clemson University website for more information: www.clemson.edu/bullyingprevention.
Bullying and Cyber-Bullying Featured in Latest Issue of The Challenge Newsletter
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools dedicated its most recent edition of The Challenge Newsletter to bullying and cyber-bullying, including the following topic areas: The School Bully in Cyberspace; Dr. Susan Limber Discusses Bullying in The Digital Age; What Can Schools Do About Cyber Bullying?; Empowering Students to Speak Up About Cyber Bullying; and Lawmakers Help Educators Take Aim at Cyber Bullying. The newsletter is found online and is available for download at: http://www.thechallenge.org/index.htm.
Readiness Series to Implement Comprehensive School Violence Programs
The Center for Safe Schools, through funding provided by Highmark Healthy High 5, an initiative of the Highmark Foundation, announces the availability of the Readiness Series to Implement Comprehensive School Violence Programs online course.
This course has been developed to provide individuals, school teams and districts with an overview of research findings and tools to help determine readiness for successful implementation and sustainability of comprehensive violence prevention programs. Examining needs, organizational structures and capacities, existing policies, overall climate and existing resources are all essential steps to be taken prior to selecting a systems-wide approach to improving school climate. Upon completion of this series, users will have a more in depth understanding of the necessity of attending to elements of readiness as part of ongoing school safety planning and youth violence prevention programming.
The Readiness Series is relevant to potential grant applicants, particularly those who may wish to apply for bullying prevention funding as part of the PA CARES initiative. The PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success) initiative, funded by the Highmark Foundation’s Healthy High 5 Initiative, offers schools within Highmark service regions the opportunity to apply for a mini-grant to implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP). Completion of the Readiness Series is a requirement of the PA CARES application process. A grant announcement for PA CARES Cohort 3 is expected to be released in late September 2009. School representatives are encouraged to complete the Readiness Series in advance of the application process.
The Readiness Series can be accessed by clicking here.
Video and Audio Highlights from the 2009 Student Services Symposium: Supporting Students to Success!
On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sponsored a one-day symposium entitled, "Supporting Students to Success". This was the fourth annual event to support Pennsylvania’s schools in the development of effective strategies to help students reach their educational and career goals.
The 2009 symposium focused on components integral to a resiliency approach that enable each student to grow into an inspired, productive, fulfilled life-long learner.
The keynote speaker was Pedro Noguera, Ph.D., Executive Director and Professor, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education of the Steinhardt Schools of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University in New York, NY. Dr. Noguera, a prolific writer and champion for issues relating to closing the achievement gap and ensuring equity and excellence for all students, provided “New Directions for American Education” which highlighted new approaches to educating children and managing schools and districts to bring about the necessary educational outcomes that our nation so desperately needs.
Click here to view the highlights of this event.
New Evaluation Shows Colorado Trust Initiative Reduces Bullying Over Time
Positive adult-student relationships build trust, reduce bullying and improve learning.
Denver, CO - An independent evaluation of The Colorado Trust's three-year, $9 million statewide Bullying Prevention Initiative shows that bullying in participating schools and community-based organizations across Colorado was prevalent during the initiative's first year - particularly in middle schools - but declined over the three-year period.
Bullying decreased when adults and students were willing to intervene, treat each other fairly and show they care. Positive relationships among adults and students and a culture of trust and fairness had a direct impact on reducing bullying.
The findings also show an association between bullying and academic achievement. Schools with less bullying had higher scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) in reading, writing and math combined during the first two years of the initiative.
Download the study now (PDF format)
Center for Safe Schools receives grant from Highmark Healthy High Five
The Highmark Foundation, through its Highmark Healthy High 5 initiative, recently announced a $2.3 million grant and a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Center for Safe Schools in an effort to address the issue of bullying. To learn more, read the full press release.
Cyber-bullying Addressed In Pennsylvania's Newest Internet Safety Resource
In this fast changing world, schools and communities throughout the Commonwealth are challenged with the task of providing continuing education on the safe and responsible use of all technology. To support schools and communities with their efforts, the Center for Safe Schools is pleased to announce the release of the “Protecting Kids Online” educational resource. Produced in Pennsylvania, this 22 minute Internet safety video speaks to parents and caregivers on topics from understanding the serious repercussion of cyber-bullying to learning how to safeguard our children from online predators. A Protecting Kids Online DVD and User Guide were recently mailed to all of Pennsylvania’s elementary and middle public school principals, superintendents, Intermediate Units and charter schools.
This new educational video is part of the Protecting Kids Online (PKO) Internet safety initiative sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania State Police and coordinated by the Center for Safe Schools. Designed for both adult audiences and elementary, middle and high school audiences, PKO presentations address all the current Internet topics including protecting personal information, cyber-bullying, social networking sites and online predators.
Over 500 Pennsylvania law enforcement officers have received certification as PKO instructors. To determine an officer’s availability to present this program in your school or community, visit www.safeschools.info or www.center-school.org/pko. For more information about the Protecting Kids Online initiative contact Don Smith, Safe Schools Coordinator at 717-763-1661, ext. 103 or at: dsmith@csc.csiu.org
Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Certified Trainers
Members of the Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Network have earned certification in the Olweus model and receive ongoing professional development on “best practices” in the field. The Olweus Bullying Prevention program is one of 11 Blueprints for Violence Prevention programs which meet the strict scientific standard of program effectiveness. The Olweus program includes school, classroom and individual components, a school-wide survey, established rules against bullying behavior and intervention strategies for bullies, bystanders and victims.
The implementation of the Olweus program begins with a certified trainer training a bullying prevention committee at your school. A student is survey is utilized to identify and address the bullying behavior occurring in the school building. Strategies for prevention and intervention are then developed in response to the identified needs. The trainer supports the committee as they implement the 3 components of this bullying prevention model. This comprehensive approach to bullying prevention involves the faculty, staff, student population and requires a strong commitment from administration and parent involvement.
To locate a trainer, please click on the Locate a Trainer link.
For further information on bullying prevention services, availability and costs, please contact a member of the Network or the Center for Schools and Communities.
For assistance, please contact Stacie Molnar-Main, Special Projects Consultant, Center for Safe Schools at 717-763-1661 ext. 128 or by e-mail at: smolnar-main@csc.csiu.org.