The development of a public/private partnership began in 2003 to implement
evidence based violence prevention programming in Arizona schools. The Center
combined its energies with the Men’s Anti-violence Network, and the Governor’s
Office for Children, Youth and Families, Division for Substance Abuse to implement
the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. In this pilot initiative, the collaboration
sought to identify the factors for the successful deployment of an “evidence-based”
prevention program. The Center provides training, technical assistance, data
analysis and report writing to the schools.
Bullying…barrier to learning
Increasingly, school officials and parents are recognizing that bullying can
be a major barrier to learning and academic achievement. Moreover, research
shows that the short and long term effects of bullying on aggressors, victims
and bystanders severely impact the contributions that these groups will later
make to society.
Bullies will have, on average, four contacts with the justice system before
their 24th birthday.
Victims, in the short term, exhibit greater absenteeism, lowered self-esteem
and are prone to depression and suicide. Over the long term, victims continue
to suffer from lower self-esteem and depression.
Bystanders become desensitized to violence and are more likely to not get
involved when they see improper behavior.
The Solution…The Arizona Bullying Prevention Partnership
The Arizona Bullying Prevention Partnership is a public/private collaboration
supported by the Governor Napolitano’s Office for Youth and Families, the Men’s
Anti-violence Network (an initiative of the Arizona Foundation for Women) and
the Arizona Prevention Resource Center of Arizona State University. The project’s
major funder is the Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention.
Corporate and private sponsors include: Aetna, Inc., American Express Foundation,
Bashas’, Bill Carstens, the Phoenix Suns, The Restaurant Source and U.S. Bank.
Significant funding is also received through the Child Abuse License Plate Fund.
Statistically school violence has declined 4% during the past several years,
the incidence of behaviors such as bullying increased 5% between 1999 and 2001
(USDOE, 2002). Additionally, youth who bully are often insecure, depressed and
lonely. Youth who bully others frequently behave badly in school. Bullies are
also more apt to smoke, drink alcohol and perform poorly in school (Nansel,
2001).
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is the only anti-bullying program that
has more than 20 years of research behind it. It is listed as one of the 11
“blueprint” programs by the University of Colorado’s evaluation of 500 anti-violence
programs funded through the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is also
listed as an “exemplary program” under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The overall goal of the project is to increase safety in schools through the
reduction and ultimate prevention of existing inappropriate behavior (including
bullying, substance abuse, truancy and absenteeism).
The program has been implemented in 50 schools throughout the state including
2 charter schools since 2003-2004. In the 2004-2005 school year the program
will reach more than 40,000 students.
The Partnership would like to offer this evidence-based program to K-8 schools
throughout the state. Arizona is the only state in the country that has created
a centralized training and technical assistance project to provide this program.
Through the partnership, schools can order materials at a discount, find local
certified trainers and receive technical assistance for program implementation.
If you are interested in learning more about the Olweus Program please contact:
Ruby Alvarado at the ASU/Arizona Prevention Resource Center, (602) 496-1321
or by e-mail at ruby.alvarado@asu.edu.
