Bullying Prevention and Intervention

Recommended Intervention Guidelines and Specific Intervention Strategies

Presentation by Debbie Bassett

“Spectrum of aggressive behaviors ranging from overt acts of physical violence to far more subtle, yet equally destructive, patterns of verbal or relational cruelty” (Feinberg, 2003, p. 10)

Aggressive behaviors (intentional, harmful) from a more powerful person/group continually aimed at a less powerful individual, usually without provocation

Links many troublesome school issues (i.e. suicide, academic difficulties, substance abuse)

One study showed 44% of students bullied at least once during a school year

What is bullying?

(Feinberg, 2003; Garringer, 2008)

Consequences for Victims:◦ Less connected to peers, adults, school ◦Develop poorer peer relationships◦ Take part in less extracurricular activities◦ Experience loneliness, isolation, anxiety, depression

71% of school shooters had been victims

Consequences for Bullies:◦Depression◦High levels of anger◦Decreased academic achievement◦Negative perceptions of school environment◦ Frequently victims themselves (bullying or abuse)

Impact of Bullying

(Garringer, 2008)

Bullying acts often go unrecognized◦ Acts are not always the obvious “bullying” activities of

hitting/name calling◦ Bullying is a subtype of aggression shown in various forms

(i.e., damaging peer relationships, Cyber-bullying)◦ Bullies may be socially competent- bullying to retain status

in a group Adults not intervening◦ 25% of teachers report it is unnecessary to step in◦ Behavior dismissed as “kids will be kids”

Adolescents hide social lives from adults Some programs are expensive, difficult to implement,

and miss site-specific problem components

Barriers to prevention?

(Feinberg, 2003; Garringer, 2008; Pepler & Craig, 2011)

School-Wide Foundation◦ Value System (Caring, respect, personal responsibility)◦ Positive discipline/supports◦ Clear behavioral expectations & consequences◦ Skill development◦ Greater adult supervision & parent involvement

Effective Bullying Prevention

Universal Prevention includes:Reinforcing Protective Factors + Reducing Risk

Following factors are important in the approach to prevention and intervention (Based on research/work of D. Olweus)

(Feinberg, 2003)

Early Interventions◦ Target specific risk factors for your school◦ At classroom level, teach positive behavior & critical

thinking skills (with lessons, discussions, parent meetings)

Intensive one-on-one interventions◦ Individual support for bullies and victims

Meetings with students and parents Counseling Sustained child/family supports

GOAL: “Create a culture in which adults stop all bullying immediately, all students learn positive behaviors and become a part of the anti-bullying solution, and the needs of individual students are met” (Feinberg, 2003, p. 10-11)

Factors important in the approach to prevention and intervention (continues)

Coordinate with schools in district (maintain similar plan/culture as students transition between schools)

Assess degree of problem Set up a coordinating team (develop/implement activities)

Include school community

Recommended Intervention GuidelinesLaying the Groundwork

(Feinberg, 2003)

Develop a conduct code with values, acceptable behaviors, and defined consequences

Consistently Enforce Consequences ◦ Sanctions + Supportive interventions

Help students create a sense of responsibility for their school community

“Distinguish between ‘ratting’ and ‘reporting’ All school personnel receives training Be aware of cultural needs Increase adult supervision School-wide prevention activities

Recommended Intervention GuidelinesConstruct a School-Wide Foundation

(Feinberg, 2003, p. 11)

In the classroom, target and teach skills and values

Lessons on conflict resolution/peer mediation

Conduct Parent Meetings

Recommended Intervention GuidelinesDo Early Interventions

(Feinberg, 2003, p. 12-13)

Create an Intervention/Investigation Protocol Determine underlined cause of bullying behavior Help child determine alternate behaviors and reinforce

appropriate behaviors Assist Parents Address off-campus bullying

Recommended Intervention GuidelinesIndividual Intervention

(Feinberg, 2003, p. 12-13)

Interventions: For the Bully

(Pepler & Craig, 2011, p.2)

Intervention Goals: Redirect leadership potential from negative, bully strategies to positive

leadership skills/opportunities Support child as they discover positive ways to gain power and status in

his/her social group/relations Provide students with “formative, rather than punitive consequences –

interventions that provide a clear message that bullying is unacceptable, but that also build awareness, skills, empathy and insights .”

Provide appealing alternatives to bullying Examples: (from cite below)• Encourage student to read a story or watch a movie and write about

how hurtful bullying can be

• Elicit student’s help to implement anti-bully programs in younger grades

Bullies have learned to assert their social power in a negative, aggressive manner

Intervention Goals: (from Pepler & Craig, 2011, p.3) Protect victims and help them develop positive connections with

peers and a trusted adult. Assess the child’s individual and relationship strengths and

weaknesses (Including: Social and assertiveness skills, Emotional/behavioral regulation, Internalizing problems)

Provide social skills programs Aim to provide moment-to-moment support for victim Examples (in and outside classroom):

establish buddiescircles of support peer mentors ways to highlight the victimized child’s talents for others to see

Aim to provide moment-to-moment support for victim, teachers, peers

Interventions: For the VictimVictims not only experience abuse, but may perceive a lack of support from peers observing the bullying and/or from adults unaware of the issue.

Peers can be coached in taking a stand and intervening when bullying occurs.

Children may need scripts for what to say and do to intervene in a positive way.

When more than one child steps in, it can help shift the balance of power away from the bully.

The key is for adults to establish conditions in which children feel responsible.

Children need to feel safe and to be encouraged to take the risk of speaking out against bullying.

Adults who listen respectfully and respond with relationship solutions will facilitate the development of social justice and give children the power to act.

(Information taken directly from Pepler & Craig, 2011, p. 4)

Interventions: For Witnesses

Uphold strict, close monitoring of on-school multi-media technology

Block access to particular websites used for uploading/sharing information in a harmful manner

Lead seminars/trainings or provide information to parents on cyber-bullying, monitoring suggestions, misuse of home computers or other devices

Faculty training on recognizing early signs of cyber-bullying victimization

Encourage school personnel to be vigilant about looking for negative information (i.e., pictures, video clips, sound bites) circulating among the students

Intervention Strategies: Cyber-bullying

(Cook, Williams, Guerra, & Tuthill, 2007)

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program – http://www.clemson.edu/olweus/evidence.html

Stop Cyberbullying – http://www.stopcyberbullying.org

Anti-Bullying Network- http://www.antibullying.net/whatsnew.htm

Useful Resources

(Cook, Williams, Guerra, & Tuthill, 2007)

The Olweus Bully Prevention Programhttp://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/13-Eval/Tools/Resources/Model%20Programs/Olweus%20Bully.pdf Bully-Proofing Your Middle School (or Elementary School)www.sopriswest.com/swstore/product.asp?sku=454

PeaceBuilderswww.peacebuilders.com PATHS (Providing Alternative Thinking Strategies)www.channing-bete.com/positiveyouth/pages/PATHS/PATHS.html

RCCP (Resolving Conflict Creatively Program)http://esrnational.org/professional-services/elementary-school/prevention/resolving-conflict-creatively-program-rccp/ Second Stephttp://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/overview/

Anti-Bullying ProgramsFrom NASP (Feinberg, 2003)

Cook, C., Williams, K., Guerra, N., & Tuthill, L. (2007, September). Cyberbulling: What it is and what we can do about it. NASP Communiqué, 36(1), Retrieved from Communiqué Online at http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/mocq361cyberbullying.aspx

Feinberg, T. (2003, September). Bully prevention and intervention. Principal Leadership, 4(1), 10-14, Retrieved from http://www.nasponline.org/resources/principals/nassp_bullying.aspx

Garringer, M. (2008). Case studies in youth mentoring: Bullying prevention and intervention. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free schools, Mentoring Resource Center at http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/297

Pepler, D., & Craig, W. (2011). Bulling, interventions and the role of adults. Retrieved from education.com at http://www.education.com/reference/article/role-of-adults-in-preventing-bullying/

References