FOR RELEASE: October 24, 2001
CONTACT: Dick Gunn
405/271-5601

Free Conference Teaches How to Stop Bullying in Schools

Most people don't think about violence as a public health issue. However, bullying is one of the most common forms of student violence; it is disruptive, damaging, and can sabotage the best learning environment and make targeted children hate school or witnesses afraid of becoming the next victim. The majority of bullies become incarcerated by their mid-20s, and by then, many have multiple felony convictions, say violence prevention experts at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

The Redlands Community College and OSDH are offering a free Bullying Prevention Community Support Training Conference tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Redlands Community College, El Reno. Concerned individuals, parents, teachers, administrators, board members, law enforcement officers, service providers will participate.

The conference will provide specific implementation strategies from educators, administrators, counselors, social workers and legal information from attorneys and law enforcement officers to support bullying prevention in schools. The topics include:

• “Classroom and Administrative Interventions To Stop Bullying Today”
• “What's a Parent to Do? Options, Guidance and Help for Families of Targets”
• “OK Law, School Responsibility: What Parents, Teachers, Administrators and Boards Need to Know”
• “Oklahoma's Success Stories”
• “Counseling Needs of Bullies, Bystanders, Targets, and How to Fund Counseling”
• “Issues and Differences Between Conflict Management and Bullying Prevention”
• “Bullying 101, What Research, the Law, and School Health Reveal”
• “Bullying 102, An Action Plan for Schools, Students, and Parents to End Bullying in Schools”.

“We see this as an opportunity for community members to get specific and expert information to help stop bullying” says OSDH Sexual Assault Prevention Education Program Coordinator Kathy Middleton. “Many OSDH Bullying Prevention Advisory and Training Team members are volunteering time to provide information. If parents, administrators, teachers and community members want expert information, this is a wonderful opportunity to discuss questions and develop local strategies based on current research and the law,” Middleton said.

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