Kay Moor

Certified OBPP trainer

How are you protecting students against bullying, cyber bullying, and other forms of violence in your school? In Montana and Idaho, it's the law.

Hazelden Publishing in partnership with the School Administrators of Montana (SAM), the Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) invite you to a free Web event: "Bullying: What Can Schools Do About It?" on November 3^rd at 1p.m. Mountain Time.

Participants will be able to:

- Describe what bullying is and its consequences for students and schools

- Explain what research shows are strategies that effectively reduce bullying in schools

- Evaluate whether your school is ready to address the issue of bullying

- Describe the components of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, the leading program to address the issue of bullying

To register for the online event

1. Visit Hazelden’s Webinar registration page (Registration coming soon)

2. Click "Register".

3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit".

Even with a school's best effort, bullying can affect the safety and well-being of the entire student population. To stop bullying, it needs to be addressed at every level of a student's experience. Hazelden has joined with SAM, IASA, and NAESP to create the Montana Bullying Prevention Initiative and Idaho Bullying Prevention Initiative. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is an important part of this initiative.

OBPP is a whole-school program aimed at preventing or reducing bullying throughout a school setting. Backed by thirty-five years of research and successful, worldwide implementation, this is a long-term, system-wide program for change and is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop. By adopting OBPP schools can:

* Reduce bullying and other antisocial behaviors by 50% or more

* Improve the social climate in schools

* Increase school attendance and positive peer interactions

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believe doctors need to take an active role in preventing bullying and highlights the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program as the program to do this.

For more information about OBPP or other Hazelden violence prevention programs, including Cyber Bullying, in Idaho contact Cathy Romano (866) 831-5719 or email cromano@hazelden.org. In Montana contact Patricia Grohe (866) 831-5714 or email pgrohe@hazelden.org .

Contact: Christine Anderson, Hazelden, 651-213-4231,canderson@hazelden.org

THE IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORSLAUNCHES THE IDAHO BULLYING PREVENTION INITIATIVE WITH HAZELDEN AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

Center City, Minn., September 2010 — The Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA) is excited to be launching, with Hazelden, an internationally known non-profit foundation, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), a new effort called the Idaho Bullying Prevention Initiative. Bullying is a serious issue that affects students’ health, the school climate, academic achievement, and school liability.

Hazelden, headquartered in Center City, Minnesota is the leading publisher of evidence-based prevention programs and the exclusive publisher of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), the most researched and best-known program of its kind. With over 35 years of research and successful implementation all over the world, OBPP is a whole school program that has been proven to prevent or reduce bullying throughout an educational setting. Many schools that have used the program have seen reductions in bullying behavior by 50% or more.

OBPP, geared to students in grades 1-8, is used at the school, classroom, and individual levels and includes methods to reach out to parents and the community for involvement and support. School administrators, teachers, and other staff are primarily responsible for introducing and implementing the program. These efforts are designed to improve peer relations and make the school a safer and more positive place for students to learn and develop.

IASA will be working with Hazelden to educate schools about the serious issue of bullying and other related violence issues, and will be serving as the central source in the state of Idaho for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and Hazelden’s other violence prevention programs. IASA will also be coordinating training for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in the state as well.

“IASA, the K-12 principals association in Idaho, is the group that should lead the way in Idaho bullying prevention. Principals play a vital role in creating a positive school culture,” said Dr. Wayne Davis, IASA’s Executive Director. “Hazelden and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program are the gold standard in evidence-based bully prevention programs.”

“Hazelden is excited to be working with such a strong organization like IASA to bring much needed bullying prevention programming to schools across the state,” said Bobby Christensen, Market Development Manager for Hazelden.

To learn more about the Idaho Bullying Prevention Initiative, visit www.idschadm.org or call 208-345-1171.

About Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA)

The mission of the Idaho Association of School Administrators is to unify the voice of Idaho educational leaders by leading, advocating and partnerships. Our organization provides opportunities for networking, professional learning, and legislative advocacy.

About Hazelden

Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. With nearly 60 years of knowledge and experience, Hazelden offers a comprehensive approach to addiction that addresses the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, including treatment and continuing care for youth and adults, research, higher education, public education and advocacy, and publishing. It has facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York and Florida, visit www.hazelden.org or call 800-257-7810.

About the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

The mission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. NAESP is committed to providing the research, tools, learning experiences, and networking that enable our members to understand and prepare students to be highly adaptive learners in a rapidly changing world.

Last Modified on September 7, 2010