CHILDREN NEED YOU and the collaborative effort of the entire community to make a real and lasting change to the culture that tolerates and allows bullying.
A successful anti-bullying campaign has to involve kids, parents, schools, out-of-school programs, law enforcement, the faith-based community, businesses, government, the media, and the entire community coming together. Each stakeholder group has a special role in the solution and a special perspective. Whether you're interested in contributing financially, volunteering, talking to the youth groups you already work with,or any combination of the above, there's never been an easier or more rewarding way to make a difference and give back to the community.
The Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance (BAPA) welcomes the opportunity to work with you to help make our schools and communities safer for our children, and provide an opportunity for our children to live, learn and grow without fear of harrassment or bullying.We invite you to contact us with your questions, concerns, comments and feedback.
"We must be the change we want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Adults
As an adult, one of the best ways you can help stop or prevent bullying is to be educated about, and sensitive to, the issue. Bullying is NOT a rite of passage - an undesirable, but sometimes unavoidable, reality of growing up. Rather, bullying is a serious public health issue that affects countless young people everyday. Further, research shows that the effects of bullying can last well into adulthood. (Learn more about bullying facts and statistics.) Whether you are a concerned parent, an educator or school employee, a health and safety professional, or someone else who works with children, there are many things you can do to help.
Imagine going to work each day knowing you could be assaulted by fists, rocks, or lit cigarettes; knowing you would be assaulted by verbal insults that scarred more deeply than those physical assaults ever did. Imagine that nobody in authority notices anything is wrong, because you keep coming to work and doing your job. No adult would tolerate that situation in the workplace -- yet every day thousands of students suffer similar abuses at the hands of school bullies, and too often adults dismiss the harassment as part of growing up. Kids are told to ignore bullies and they will go away. (Excerpt from "A Child's Plea Becomes An Adult's Crusade")
There's a lot that we can do to take a stand against bullying and help change our culture from one of tolerance to one that makes it clear bullying won't be tolerated. We can be 'upstanders' (not bystanders) too! Learn more about how parents can make a difference.
Students
You as a group have the most power in your school to turn your school around and make it the best school you could possibly go to. Whether you are being bullied, have seen kids being bullied, or you're pretty sure you have bullied others, there are plenty of things you can do to help in the fight against bullying. Learn more about what you can do to help stop bullying in your school.
The time is always right to do what is right. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Educators
While some may feel that bullying in their school is being adequately addressed, overwhelmingly, research reflects a significant gap between educators’ perceptions and actual incidents of bullying at school. In one study, classroom teachers identified and intervened in only 4 percent of bullying incidents (Skiba & Fontanini, 2000). Part of the problem is that bullying is more likely to occur in places where adults are not. However, lack of understanding of the nature and severity of bullying behavior also contributes significantly to many adults’ inability or unwillingness to get involved (U.S. Department of Education [USDOE], 1998). Adults are often unaware of bullying problems (Limber, 2002). In one study, 70 percent of teachers believed that teachers intervene "almost always" in bullying situations; only 25 percent of students agreed with this assessment (Charach et al., 1995).
Out-of-school time programs fill the gap for working parents and communities concerned about how and where youth spend their free time. Professionals and volunteers in this field cover a diverse range of activities and organizations.
They assist in extracurricular activities as coaches in sports and recreations; instructors of dance, art and music; advisers for academic clubs; and leaders of faith and worship groups.
They work part-time or full-time to teach new knowledge and skills in after-school and tutoring programs; computer labs; homework centers; apprenticeships; entrepreneurial and job training; and in experiences in camping, scouting and service learning.
Many are staff, volunteers, and youth leaders with large national and community-based organizations (e.g., Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 4-H Clubs and YMCAs, along with many others) who enhance every aspect of children's lives - academics; social, artistic, and athletic skills; morality; and citizenship.
Because of the diversity of out-of-school time programs, it is difficult to compare or generalize the results. What is clear, however, is that good programs with active youth participation can reduce delinquency and improve social and cognitive skills of children and youth (National Institute of Out-of-School Time, 2003; Miller, 2005).
Nine percent of boys and 5 percent of girls reported that they had been bullied away from schools "sometimes" or "weekly" (compared with 16 percent of boys and 11 percent of girls who reported being bullied at school).
Children who bully and who are bullied (both in school and away from school) are more likely than other children to be involved in fighting and carry a weapon. In fact, 70 percent of boys and 30-40 percent of girls who were involved in bullying outside of school on a weekly basis reported carrying a weapon in the past month.
Changing bullying hehavior requires a coordinated approach. Schools, parents and the police are developing new ways of working together pro-actively to prevent bullying. Law enforcement officers can help stop the spread of fear and violence in our schools by assisting in the implementation of a comprehensive bullying prevention program. Learn more about how law enforcement can make a difference in helping to stop bullying in our schools and communities. The Law Enforcement & Justice Video Workshop will also be helpful in your efforts to make a difference in our communities.
Faith-Based Organizations
"It’s time to bring God’s love, care, and compassion into this theater of difficulty. It’s time that the faith community, which values human life and dignity, join and lead this charge to free God’s children from the injustice of bullying, which strips children of dignity and worth." Learn more about how your church or faith-based organization can help stop bullying.
Businesses
Local businesses can make an important contribution to the effort to stop bullying in our schools and communities. Here are a few simple ways to make a difference:
Make information and resources available to your employees and customers around the issue of bullying. Many of your employees, co-workers and customers have children who are facing the daily bully battle.
Provide them with information about our web site as a resource on how to recognize the signs of bullying, what to do when their child is being bullied, how to work with educators, and more. Linking to our web site from yours will provide them with easy access.
Provide them with resources, such as Tip Sheets (contact us for more information).
Post anti-bullying posters in your place of business. Help make your employees and customers aware of the serious issue of bullying, and what they can do about it (contact us for more information).
Encourage your employees to participate in community events and volunteer with the Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance (BAPA). Employees can donate to BAPA to be allowed to wear ourThink Pink' t-shirt and jeans on a designated day to show their support of the children in our community who are being bullied. Donations can be collected at your local business and forward to BAPA to help us continue our important work in the community.
Create a program whereby your business will match the contributions of your employees made to the Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance (BAPA)
Consider the Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance (BAPA) when providing financial support within the community. Your contribution will allow us to continue to develop and make available information and educational materials to youth, parents, educators, and out-of-school programs.
Sponsor a school or out-of-school program. Your financial contribution can be earmarked for use with a particular school or out-of-school program.
As you can see, there are many creative ways to educate your employees about the resources that are available to them to help stop bullying, and to help make their childrens lives and environments one in which they can live, learn and grow without the threat of harrassment or bullying.
With your permission, Parents United Against Bullyingwill show your business as a supporter of the children in our community on our web site and promotional materials. Keep in mind that the Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance (BAPA) is a project of Anchors of Hope, a non-profit organization registered with the State of Iowa. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Community Involvement
Community partners can promote child safety by helping the community deal with bullying problems. Bullying is a complex challenge for the entire community. As law enforcement officers, representatives of juvenile justice, business owners, faith community members, attorneys, mental health experts and other youth serving professionals, you can share your expertise, resources and skills.
Below are just a few of the ways in which you can help to make a difference:
Participate in problem-solving groups
Offer cultural perspectives on bullying problems
Work with others to create and deliver an effective response to bullying
Help monitor the effectiveness of a response program
Serve on a committee
Provide insight regarding bullying and matters of law enforcement or civil rights
Identify students at risk, and provide additional supervision/support
Provide support and work with parents
Promote the norm for a community that does not tolerate bullying
Volunteer to mentor bullies and targets of bullying
Demonstrate to all children the concern and support of the community
Help prevent future criminal activity by intervening with bullying now.
Thank you for your generous support of the Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance. Know that your contributions will be used to further our mission to raise awareness of the seriousness of bullying in our and advocate for the implementation of effective bullying prevention strategies. In addition, we will continue to develop and make available information and educational materials on-line for easy access for all. Thank you for helping us create a culture in which our children can live, learn and grow without the threat of harrassment or bullying!
The Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance is funded by grants and the generosity of individuals like you. We welcome your financial participation at whatever level is comfortable for you.
For your convenience you may donate quickly and securely online using either your debit or credit card (click here). Your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Media
Radio, television, and newspaper PSAs are available to promote community awareness. You can participate in helping to combat bullying by providing airtime and print space for these PSAs. Your partnership in fignting the bully battle is greatly appreciated. Please contact us for more information.
Thank You!
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who is involved in the fight against bullying. A successful anti-bullying campaign has to involve kids, parents, schools, out-of-school programs, law enforcement, the faith-based community, businesses, government, the media, and the entire community coming together. Each stakeholder group has a special role in the solution and a special perspective. Your dedication to the children of our community is what makes it a great place to live!
The BAPA is a project of Anchors of Hope, a 501(c)3 registered with the State of Iowa. Private donations are a large part of the funding that allows us to continue to help keep children safe, online and offline. Your contributions are greatly appreciated, and are tax deductible. To donate easily and safely online, please click here.
The Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance
is proud to partner with the following trusted organizations...
'Take A Stand. Lend A Hand. Stop Bullying Now!' National Campaign. For more information, visit www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov.
The National Crime Prevention Council helps people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. For more information, visit http://www.ncpc.org/topics/bullying
Take advantage of the Cox Communications
“Take Charge!” program.
Manage what your kids see,
AND DON’T SEE,
on TV and the
Internet. For more information, visit www.cox.com/ takecharge/
PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. For more information, visit http://www.pacer.org/bullying/index.asp
"We must be the change we want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi 
