October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and it’s important to remember that bullying can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety at school, and can adversely impact their ability to learn. The best way to address bullying is to stop it before it starts.
On October 24th, the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention will host “School-Based Health Professionals Respond to Bullying” a webinar focused on bullying in school settings. This webinar, developed in collaboration with the National Association of School Nurses and the National Assembly of School-Based Health Care, will showcase on-the-ground perspectives from clinicians and students along with best practices for bullying prevention and response.
There are a number of things school-based networks can do to make schools safer and prevent bullying. School-based health centers and school nurses know that healthy students learn better. Their goal is to enhance students’ health, academic outcomes, and overall well-being. Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical health, school, and mental health issues. A safe and supportive school climate can help prevent bullying, and provide a safe environment for learning and mental development.
During this webinar, participants will learn about the role of school nurses and school-based health care staff in preventing and responding to incidents of bullying. Participants will hear both a clinic and youth’s perspective on working with bullying issues, including:
- Model ways of assisting bystanders who witness bullying and want to help;
- How to create safe spaces for youth in school; and
- A training overview for school nurses.
Panelists include:
- Judith Vessey, a Professor of Nursing at Boston College, who will discuss the opportunities for intervention for school nurses. Judith’s career has been dedicated to caring for children, and her current research focuses on teasing and bullying.
- Dynasty Winters, a student from Southeast Raleigh High School, who will be discussing her experiences with bullying prevention, and will provide recommendations on ways to address bystanders and cyber-bullying.
- Rebecca Collett, a Program Coordinator for Washington County Commission on Children and Families, who will provide a school-based clinic’s perspective on implementing an anti-bullying campaign and lessons learned.
Our panel speakers will discuss ideas for preparing for an approach when they see bullying take place, as well as discussing ways that bullying may be prevented. This webinar occurred on October 24, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.