BULLYING PREVENTION
About one in six American high school students experiences bullying. A higher percentage of girls are bullied than boys. About one in four teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or another non-heterosexual identity are bullied. Victims of bullying may suffer serious and long-lasting physical, psychological, and academic effects. Those who bully also need help: they are more likely to drop out of school, abuse alcohol and drugs, and engage in criminal activity.
In March 2019, representatives from more than two dozen local government agencies, community organizations, and local schools formed the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force to explore the prevalence of youth bullying and strategies to combat it.
“The Bullying Prevention Task Force has brought together parents, students, service providers, school personnel, and community members to better understand the resources and strategies needed to take on the serious issue of bullying,” said Bridgette Nugent, a founding Task Force co-coordinator. “The Task Force is energized to take real action to address a very real problem in our community.”
Basics of Youth Bullying
Definition: “Bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.” Types include physical, verbal, and relational. Cyberbullying involves e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, chat rooms, gaming systems, tweeting, or social media.
Potential Psychological Effects: Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, self- harming behavior (especially for girls), alcohol and drug use and dependence, aggression, involvement in violence or crime (especially for boys), emotional distress, hostility, and delinquency.
Potential Physical Effects: Immediate physical injury, sleep disorders, stomach aches, headaches, heart palpitations, dizziness, bedwetting, chronic pain, somatization (a syndrome of distressful, physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical cause), stress-related impact on the immune system and hormones, and impact on brain activity and functioning.
Potential Academic Effects: Impact on grades and standardized test scores starting as early as kindergarten and continuing through high school.
Bullying and Suicide: Persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior. Most young people who die by suicide have multiple risk factors.
Sources: stopbullying.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Facts About Bullying
United States
- 15% of high school students were bullied at school in 2021.
- 16% of high school students experienced electronic bullying.
- More female students (17%) were bullied at school compared to male students (13%).
- More female students (20%) were electronically bullied compared to male students (11%).
- More white students (21.5%) and Hispanic students (16.3%) were bullied at school compared to black students (13.2%).
- More white students (18%) and American Indian students (18%) were electronically bullied compared to Hispanic students (12%), Asian students (11%) and black students (9%).
- More LGBQ+ students (23%) were bullied at school than heterosexual students (12%).
- More LGBQ+ students (27%) were electronically bullied than heterosexual students (13%).
Tompkins County
- 21.2% of 7-12 students surveyed in Tompkins reported being bullied on school property in 2021.
- 20.8% of students reported being bullied electronically in 2021.
Sources: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011-2021, CDC; Community-Level Youth Development Evaluation (CLYDE) Tompkins County
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
There is no federal law that specifically applies to bullying. In some cases, when bullying is based on race or ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion, bullying overlaps with harassment and schools are legally obligated to address it.
In New York State, DASA prohibits bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students in school. Schools are required to:
- Develop a school strategy to prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
- Provide students, staff, and persons in parental relation with information about DASA, including the identity of the DASA Coordinator.
- Enable students and persons in parental relation to make a report.
- Complete a thorough investigation promptly after a report.
- Take prompt action to end harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination.
- Prohibit retaliation against anyone making a report or assisting with an investigation.
- Notify local law enforcement when behavior is believed to constitute criminal conduct.
- Ensure that all school personnel receive a copy of the district policies, including the reporting process, at least annually.
- Provide reports on incidents to superintendent and New York State Education Department.
School procedure for reporting bullying, harassment, and discrimination:
- Student, staff member, or parent/caregiver experiences, witnesses, or hears about bullying, harassment, discrimination, or hazing.
- Witness or target finds a staff person if immediate help is needed AND if a safety issue; alleged aggressor(s) are separated and intervention occurs to ensure safety.
- Bullying Reporting Form is completed by student, staff, or parent/caregiver and given to the appropriate Dignity Act Coordinator.
- Investigation occurs. Target is interviewed separately from aggressor and necessary supports are put in place to ensure safety. Witnesses and aggressor(s) are interviewed.
- Parent/caregiver is notified. Notification may occur earlier dependent upon severity and situation. If investigation deems that the event occurred, then every attempt is made to permanently stop the bullying, harassment, discrimination, or hazing by means of consequences, education, restorative practices, and/or remediation.
Sources: New York State Education Department and New York State Center for School Safety, and Ithaca City School District
New York State Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
DASA seeks to provide New York’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
Implementation of the Dignity for All Students Act October 2017, New York State Education Department
New York State Center for School Safety
The center offers professional development and technical assistance to schools and districts for maintaining safe and healthy learning environments.
DASA in Tompkins County
Dignity Act: What You Need to Know
Ithaca City School District DASA
Ithaca City School District DASA Brochure
Dryden Central School District DASA
Groton Central School District DASA
Lansing Central School District DASA
Lansing DASA Bullying Reporting Form
Newfield Central School District DASA
Trumansburg Central School District DASA
Trumansburg DASA Reporting Form
Restorative Justice in Education
“The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here?” National Education Policy Center
“Restorative Justice in Education: What We Know So Far,” Middle School Journal
Restorative Justice Partnership
“A Restorative Approach for Equitable Education,” Learning Policy Institute
“Restorative Practices Guide and Toolkit,” Chicago Public Schools
“Restorative Justice: Resources for Schools,” Edutopia
“What Teachers Need to Know About Restorative Justice,” WeAreTeachers
Jeff P. Godowski, Educator, Consultant, & Trainer
Restorative Practices Community Open Space, Tompkins County Public Library
Resources for Students, Parents, Teachers, and Schools
“Community-Level Youth Development Evaluation (CLYDE),” Tompkins County
“Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2021,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2019,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2017,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Bullying surveillance among youths: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements Version 1.0,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A U.S. government website managed by the Department of Health and Human Services providing information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.
Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
Pacer provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.
Resources from PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Center
The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
“The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available today.”
The Anti-Bullying Institute offers wide-ranging, hands-on programs designed to empower children, parents, school and youth organization personnel to effectively deal with the issue of bullying.
“We are the global nonprofit leader in ‘People Safety’ education—an international movement of leaders reaching millions of people of all ages, abilities, genders, identities, and walks of life with effective, culturally-competent interpersonal and social safety skills.”
“CirclePoint is a revolutionary evidence-based program that enables all members of a school community—administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and students—to play an active part in preventing and resolving bullying problems.”
“Parents Place’s Bullying Prevention Program was established to give schools and organizations effective tools to prevent and intervene in all forms of bullying. It trains parents, educators, school administrators, and community members in the best practices to heal and empower youth who have been bullied, to encourage bystanders to intervene in safe and effective ways, and to counsel those who have engaged in bullying.”
American Psychological Association
APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States.
“How parents, teachers and kids can take action to prevent bullying,” American Psychological Association
Bullying Prevention Organizations
The Tyler Clementi Foundation works to prevent bullying of vulnerable individuals including in the LGBTQ community through inclusion and creation of safe spaces.
Stomp Out Bullying calls itself the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization for kids and teens in the U.S.
Changing the Game Project provides parents and coaches with the information and resources they need to make sports a healthy, positive, and rewarding experience for their children, and their whole family.
New York State Resources and Information
New York State Center for School Safety
The center offers professional development and technical assistance to schools and districts for maintaining safe and healthy learning environments.
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
DASA seeks to provide New York’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
Implementation of the Dignity for All Students Act October 2017, New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department guide for educators, school district personnel, parents/guardians, students, and community organizations on mental health education provided in New York State schools.
New York State Education Law §804
“All schools shall ensure that their health education programs recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health…”
Mental Health Education in New York Schools
A review of the legislative history, intent and vision for implementation by the Mental Health Association in New York State.
Tompkins County Resources and Information
Community-Level Youth Development Evaluation (CLYDE) for Tompkins County 2021 Report
Communities That Care Report for Grades 6 to 12 2018-19 TST Region Report
Findings of a survey of students in Tompkins County and Seneca County school districts.
Tompkins County campaign with events, gatherings, written materials, silicone bracelets, and T-shirts to spread the belief that everyone needs a “safe, secure and nurturing relationship.”
Dignity Act: What You Need to Know, TST BOCES
Dignity for All Students Act: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers, Ithaca City School District
Bullying Reporting Form, Ithaca City School District
DOWNLOAD: Brief Guide to Youth Bullying Prevention PDF
National Bullying Prevention Month
“Every member of the Tompkins County community, government agencies, community organizations, school administrators, teachers, athletic coaches, parents, and students can play a part in creating a bully-free environment in our schools, athletics fields, public spaces, and online.” — Tompkins County Legislature Proclamation, October 1, 2019
DOWNLOAD: Bullying Prevention Month Social Media Graphic
Bullying Prevention Resources for Schools 2022 [DOWNLOAD]
School Activities to Promote Bullying Prevention [DOWNLOAD]
Task Force Vision & Mission Statements
The Task Force’s vision is a bullying-free Tompkins County, secured and maintained through: 1) strong awareness of bullying’s harmful physical, psychological, and academic effects on young people; 2) broad collaboration among government agencies, schools, families, and community partners; and 3) youth leadership in developing bullying prevention and response strategies.
The Task Force’s mission is to facilitate comprehensive cooperation across the community in developing and promoting appropriate bullying prevention and response strategies in Tompkins County.
Approved unanimously by Task Force members 8/6/19
Task Force Organizational Structure and Operational Procedures
The full Task Force membership is charged with considering all initiatives, with approval requiring a majority vote.
The full Task Force shall elect a Task Force Coordinator or Co-Coordinators.
The Coordinator or Co-Coordinators are responsible for making all administrative decisions, regarding composition of the Task Force, scheduling of meetings, internal communications, communicating Task Force decisions and announcements to the public, etc.
Subgroup Coordinators are responsible for coordinating the work of their subgroup and communicating their subgroup’s proposals and reports to the full Task Force.
Approved unanimously by Task Force members, with election of Bridgette Nugent of the Tompkins County Youth Services Department and Scott MacLeod of The Sophie Fund as Task Force co-coordinators, 8/6/19
Task Force Members
New members always welcome
(For information or to join the Task Force, email: thesophiefund2016@gmail.com)
Tompkins County Youth Services Department (Coordinator 2019-2022)
The Sophie Fund (Coordinator 2019–)
TST BOCES
Greater Ithaca Activities Center
Ithaca Central School District
Newfield Central School District
Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
Celia Clement, Independent
Caroline After School Program
Ithaca Youth Bureau
Trumansburg Central School District
Beth Hogan, Independent
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service
Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CNY
Dryden Central School District
Advocacy Center of Tompkins County
Racker
Human Resources Coalition of Tompkins County
Cornell Cooperative Extension
National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes
United Way of Tompkins County
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York
Finger Lakes Independence Center
Founding Members of the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force (2019)
Media Coverage of Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force
“Community Forum on Bullying @ TCPL,” The Sophie Fund, June 4, 2019
“New task force to hold forum on bullying prevention June 15,” Ithaca Voice, June 5, 2019
“Task force brings community together to address bullying in local schools,” Ithaca Voice, June 18, 2019
“Finding solutions to bullying: Task force to hold forum at library,” Ithaca Journal, June 15, 2019
“Exploring Strategies to Stop Bullying,” The Sophie Fund, June 19, 2019
“Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Day!” The Sophie Fund, October 2, 2019
“Tompkins dedicates day for bullying prevention,” Ithaca Voice, October 2, 2019
“Bullying Prevention Rally Held in Honor of Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Day,” Cornell Daily Sun, October 8, 2019
“Tompkins Marks County’s First ‘Bullying Prevention Day,’” The Sophie Fund, October 11, 2019
“Bullying: We Need Your Voice,” The Sophie Fund, November 16, 2019
“Our Community Is Working to Prevent Youth Bullying,” The Sophie Fund, November 23, 2019
“Kids Getting Bullied: What Adults Can Do,” The Sophie Fund, November 4, 2021
“What Parents Can Do About Cyberbullying,” The Sophie Fund, February 7, 2022
“How Schools Can Address Bullying,” The Sophie Fund, February 9, 2022
“Using Strengths Based Approaches to Bullying,” The Sophie Fund, February 11, 2022
“Why School Climate is a ‘Big Deal’,” The Sophie Fund, February 15, 2022
“Creating, Kind, Safe, and Inclusive School Cultures,” The Sophie Fund, February 17, 2022
“A Month of Kindness,” The Sophie Fund, September 20, 2022
Bullying Prevention Day in Tompkins County Proclamation
Martha Robertson, Legislature chair; Kate Shanks-Booth, director of the Tompkins County Youth Services Department; Bridgette Nugent, Task Force co-coordinator
United in Kindness Event Series October 2022
DOWNLOAD: United in Kindness Event Series Poster
Symposium January 27, 2022
“What to Do About Cyberbullying”
DOWNLOAD: Symposium Bullying Prevention Resources
DOWNLOAD: Articles from The Sophie Fund on the January 2022 United in Kindness Symposium
“Addressing Cyberbullying and Unwise Social Media Use: The Role of Parents, Youth, and the Community,” by Sameer Hinduja, co-director, Cyberbullying Research Center. [VIDEO] [SLIDE DECK]
“Dignity for All Students Act (DASA),” by Amanda Verba, Chief Operations Officer, Ithaca City School District.[VIDEO]
“Strengths Based Intervention & Prevention Approaches,” a panel discussion with Celia Clement, retired Ithaca City School District social worker; Savannah Storm, conflict mediation specialist, Elmira City School District; and Jeff P. Godowski, Cornell University house assistant dean and owner of JP Godowski Consulting LLC. [VIDEO]
“School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Unsafe Social Media Use One Classroom at a Time,” by Sameer Hinduja, co-director, Cyberbullying Research Center. [VIDEO] [SLIDE DECK]
The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents.
A packet of 17 parent handouts for keeping children safe online.
A packet of 22 school handouts for guiding healthy online behavior.
Book & Film Recommendations from Sameer Hinduja
Book & Film Recommendations from Celia Clement
Contact Information
Sameer Hinduja hinduja@cyberbullying.org
Amanda Verba amanda.verba@icsd.k12.ny.us
Celia Clement celiaclement@gmail.com
Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force thesophiefund2016@gmail.com
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