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Tips for Selecting Bullying Prevention Programs

Stop Bullying Now! issued a Call-for Resources in an effort to develop a comprehensive list of existing resources and programs on bullying and bullying prevention. Be sure to check back periodically for new resources that may be submitted to the Web site. Authors, program developers, and/or publishers wishing to include additional materials should visit www.bullyingresources.org for information on submitting a resource.

Submitted materials have been included if they:

• Focus on bullying
• Are appropriate for children and youth ages 9 through 13 or teens or adults who shape their lives

Inclusion of materials and programs on this web site does not signify an endorsement by the Campaign, the United States Government Department of Health and Human Service, and/or any of the Campaign's partners or sponsors.

In helping visitors select programs and materials that will be most useful for them, we have included, wherever possible, detailed information about the resources. In addition, we have provided tips for selecting bullying prevention programs.

Types of Programs

As interest in bullying and bullying prevention has grown in recent years, quite a number of bullying prevention programs have been developed and published. Most programs are intended for use in school settings and are designed for students in elementary and middle school grades, although several programs are appropriate for high school students and/or children and youth in non-school settings.

School-based programs vary in their approach. Some are purely curricular programs, while others provide additional (non-curricular) tips and strategies for teachers to address and prevent bullying in their classrooms. Still others are comprehensive. Visitors to the site will notice that programs are categorized as being primarily: (1) comprehensive programs, (2), curricula, or (3) other types of programs.

Program Themes

A number of important themes emerge from a review of the available bullying prevention programs (although these themes may not be explicitly stated and are not common to all programs):

• Bullying prevention approaches should focus on prevention of bullying and intervention in bullying situations
• Effective bullying prevention requires changing the norms and climate of the school, with the goal that all students are included and treated with respect
• Prevention of bullying requires that the school work together as a community and should include school administrators, teachers, non-teaching staff, students, and parents
• Adults within the school must take the lead in efforts to change the climate and norms of be school with regard to bullying, but students also play critical roles as bystanders in this process
• Bullying prevention requires a long-term commitment of a school community

Common Elements of Comprehensive Bullying Prevention Programs

Most programs that are comprehensive in their approach to bullying prevention and intervention share some common elements and strategies, including:

• Surveying students to assess the nature and extent of bullying behavior and attitudes toward bullying
• Staff training to raise awareness of bullying problems and interventions
• Development of consistent rules against bullying
• Review and enhancement of the school's disciplinary code related to bullying behavior
• Classroom activities to discuss issues related to bullying
• Integration of bullying themes across the curriculum
• Individual and/or group work with children who have been bullied
• Individual work with children who have bullied their peers
• Involvement of parents in bullying prevention and/or intervention activities
• Use of teacher or staff support groups to increase staff knowledge and motivation related to bullying

Common Themes and Strategies of Bullying Prevention Curricula

Bullying prevention curricula also share a number of themes and/or strategies to teach students about bullying and to attempt to alter their attitudes and behaviors. Some of the most common include:

• Increasing students' understanding about bullying (e.g, defining bullying, noting how bullying differs from other types of aggression)
• Exploring the effects of bullying on those who are bullied and those who observe bullying
• Teaching strategies for children and youth to avoid/address bullying
• Increasing students' understanding of children who bully (e.g., their possible motivations)
• Increasing motivation for (and skills of) bystanders to help stop bullying
• Building a sense of cohesion among students within a class

Tips for Selecting Bullying Prevention Programs That Are Right For Your School and/or Community

1. Carefully research existing programs, paying close attention to:
   • The type of program (e.g., curricular, comprehensive, other)
   • The philosophy of the program
   • The target age group(s) for the program
   • The delivery site of the program (school, community)
   • Program costs and demands on staff time
   • The research base for the program (Has it been evaluated? If so, has it been found to be effective in reducing bullying?)
2. Contact program developers to answer additional questions that you may have about the programs.
3. Talk with colleagues in other schools that have implemented bullying prevention programs. Often program developers can put you in touch with others who can share their experiences with implementing particular programs.
4. Assess your school's current prevention and intervention programs. Consider whether they would be compatible with bullying prevention programs that you are considering.
5. Share information about programs with others at your school or in your community and ask for their feedback. In order to be successful, programs usually must be embraced by the majority of staff.

Carefully select a program that best fits the needs of your school or community, with attention to the proven effectiveness of the model (where possible).