It Takes a Network to Create a Country Without Bullying Debra Pepler Scientific Co-Director, PREVNet York University & HSC

Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Lessons Learned through PREVNet

PREVNet Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence The most effective way to Eliminate Violence is by Promoting Positive Relationships Prevention is Key

Objectives What do people need to understand about bullying? Who needs to understand bullying and the needs of youth involved in bullying? How can we reach all those who need to understand and change their behaviour?

Canada’s Strategy for Social and Economic Change Networks of Centres of Excellence Canada’s largest funding mechanism Supports partnerships to share expertise between university researchers and organizations doing the practical work

How Do You Begin to Change a Country? Concern is bullying and interpersonal violence Developmental perspective: lifespan issue Expertise among researchers Expertise among youth serving organizations

PREVNet Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network New Initiative phase: To prevent and stop bullying in Canada To promote healthy relationships and healthy development for all children and youth.

PREVNet Vision Stop bullying in Canada Create a social-cultural change in Canada about the use of power and aggression in relationships PREVNet Objective Promote safe and healthy relationships for Canadian children and youth PREVNet Strategy Create an active network of top Canadian researchers, national organizations, and levels of government © Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network, 2007

What is PREVNet? Focused on bullying research and the development of practice to “create a world without bullying” A network of 55 researchers from 25 universities across Canada, and 45 national organizations that work with children and youth, industry, and federal, provincial and territorial governments PREVNet has the capacity to reach every child and youth in Canada.

Why Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence? Healthy development depends on healthy relationships. Developing the capacity for healthy relationships is essential. Relationship problems affect children’s development and have a long-term impact on families, communities, and society. Relationship problems can transfer to the next generation. Knowledge of the processes that shape development is crucial for prevention and intervention to promote healthy development, as well as human and social capital outcomes.

What do people need to understand about bullying?

Individual children’s risks for bullying problems and dynamics in various systems Identify and measure bullying and relationships Strategies to address bullying problems and promote relationships effectively How to develop policies to promote healthy relationships and reduce likelihood of bullying

Four Strategy Pillars for Change Education and Training Assessment and Evaluation Prevention and Intervention Policy and Advocacy

Who needs to understand bullying and the needs of youth involved in bullying?

Who needs to understand? Bullying is not just a school problem – Bullying occurs in all of the places where children live, learn, play and work. Knowledge and strategies are required at every kitchen table, in every classroom, in every sport and recreation setting, and in the community.

17 CCRC CCCO

How can we reach all those who need to understand and change their behaviour?

How Can We Reach Out and Bridge Research and Practice Traditional methods have not been effective. New partnerships and catalysts for change Working groups on key areas new groups: aboriginal, workplace New methods: opera, gaming,

Four Strategy Pillars for Change Education and Training Assessment and Evaluation Prevention and Intervention Policy and Advocacy

Education and Training Website Education materials tailored for 18 NGOs: Concerned Children’s Advertisers PSA –PSAs reached 94% of children aged 2-11 Kids Help Phone Counsellors Family Channel Canadian Association of Principals (14,000) Opera on bullying – Elijah’s Kite Annual conferences and international consultations

Partnership with Girl Guides Leaders needed to understand girls’ development and bullying and learn how to promote healthy relationships. Developed a training module, participant handout, and parent brochure 22,000 Girl Guide Leaders 85,000 Guides and parents Developed a badge “Girls United”

Informed Guiders can: Make Girl Guides a safe & supportive environment Identify & prevent bullying Use effective strategies to stop bullying Support ALL who are involved Help girls develop positive social relationships “Girls don’t have to be friends with everyone, but it is not OK to be hurtful or harmful to anyone!”

Assessment and Evaluation Web-based Assessment Tool for: Children in grades K-3 and 4-6 Youth in grades 7-12 Teachers, leaders, administrators, parents Adapted for diverse partners to assess and evaluate: Red Cross RespectED violence prevention programs Respect in Sport (training for all coaches in Canada) Boys and Girls’ Clubs National Ballet School SAMHSA

Prevention and Intervention Developed tip sheets for: teachers, leaders, parents, youth, children (available on Partnerships for program development (e.g., Respect in Workplace) PREVNet seal of approval Partnerships with electronic gaming companies Manuals to accompany programs (opera, games)

Grades A library of computer simulations to prevent bullying and improve school climate

Computers help prevent bullying and improve school climate Try new behaviours Explore consequences in safety An interactive medium children love! (even play after school!)

Students learn impulse control, self respect and respect for others Includes: 5 computer modules Discussion guides On-curriculum extensions Self directed student activities Family activities/letters home Automated reporting Std’zed Test Boosters

Over 80% of the students reported that that liked the stories, graphics and found the game fun. Students knew more prosocial and effective strategies to prevent or manage bullying situations and had more positive attitudes after playing only one of these games. These games are effective for both mainstream students as well as those with special needs. …. Evidence of Effectiveness EVALUATION IS ONGOING

Policy and Advocacy Policy foundation UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Partnerships and consultations to address policies and practice with: Canadian Council on Children’s Rights UNICEF Canada Senate Committee on Human Rights Recent Senate Report on Children’s Rights called for a national strategy on bullying: PREVNet is the national strategy

What Can PREVNet Do to Improve Practice? Enhance training of professionals who work with children and youth, as well as with their families. Provide scientific knowledge to promote understanding and effective strategies to prevent and respond to bullying Evaluate practices with the web-based tools Promote and support sustainability of programs

PREVNet Creating a World without Bullying Through partnerships within and beyond Canada, we can: Increase the well-being, healthy relationships, respect, social cohesion, social responsibility, and citizenship in our children and youth. Provide a strong empirical and globally relevant model to promote safe and healthy relationships for all children and youth.

Supporting Youth By Bridging Research and Practice Thank you for