Preventing Violence & Abuse Coach Johnson

BELL ACTIVITY Lesson 1 What is violence prevention?  A. Learning techniques to lower your risk of being involved in violent behavior.  B. Bullying others.  C. Talking about other people.  D. Spreading rumors about other people.

STRYVE – backed by the CDC Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere  “Between the world that is and the world that could be… there’s HOW.”  STRYVE is a national initiative, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence before it starts.

What is youth violence and what are the factors that influence it? Youth violence may be defined as the intentional use of force—whether threatened or real—against a person, group, or community that results in—or has a high likelihood of resulting in—injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation by persons between the ages of 10 and 24.

Youth Violence  Youth Violence Youth Violence  Violence Prevention Fact SheetViolence Prevention Fact Sheet

A serious problem… Youth violence is a serious problem that can have lasting harmful effects on victims and their family, friends, and communities. The goal for youth violence prevention is simple-to stop youth violence from happening in the first place. But the solutions are as complex as the problem.

Risk Factors Risk factors give us insights into what may increase the likelihood of a young person becoming violent. Risk factors do not cause youth to become violent. However, the presence of risk factors increases the chances for violence. Risk factors are broken down into four levels: individual, relationship, community, and societal.

Individual Risk Factors History of violent victimization Attention deficits, hyperactivity or learning disorders History of early aggressive behavior Involvement with drugs, alcohol or tobacco Low IQ Poor behavioral control Deficits in social cognitive or information-processing abilities High emotional distress History of treatment for emotional problems Antisocial beliefs and attitudes Exposure to violence and conflict in the family

Family Risk Factors Authoritarian childrearing attitudes Harsh, lax or inconsistent disciplinary practices Low parental involvement Low emotional attachment to parents or caregivers Low parental education and income Parental substance abuse or criminality Poor family functioning Poor monitoring and supervision of children

Peer/Social Risk Factors Association with delinquent peers Involvement in gangs Social rejection by peers Lack of involvement in conventional activities Poor academic performance Low commitment to school and school failure

Community Risk Factors Diminished economic opportunities High concentrations of poor residents High level of transiency High level of family disruption Low levels of community participation Socially disorganized neighborhoods

Individual/Family PROTECTIVE Factors Intolerant attitude toward deviance High IQ High grade point average Positive social orientation Religiosity Connectedness to family or adults outside the family Ability to discuss problems with parents Perceived parental expectations about school performance are high Frequent shared activities with parents Consistent presence of parent during at least one of the following: when awakening, when arriving home from school, at evening mealtime or going to bed Involvement in social activities

Peer/Social PROTECTIVE Factors Commitment to school Involvement in social activities

Consequences In a nationwide survey of high school students, about 6% reported not going to school on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to and from school (CDC 2010).

Consequences Nearly 700,000 young people ages 10 to 24 are treated in emergency departments each year for injuries sustained due to violence-related assaults (CDC 2009). On average, 16 persons between the ages of 10 and 24 are murdered each day in the United States (CDC 2009).

Consequences In addition to causing injury and death, youth violence affects communities by increasing the cost of health care, reducing productivity, decreasing property values, and disrupting social services

How much youth violence is there and how does it affect us? Youth violence is an important public health problem that often results in deaths and injuries, as well as other consequences and costs that you may not have thought about. Youth violence affects everybody, independent of age, gender, race, ethnicity, and geographical area. Even if you are not a direct victim of youth violence, it affects you.

Leading Causes of Death Among People Ages 1-44

Assignment Get into groups of 3. I will assign you a risk factor level. You will create a skit to perform for the class that demonstrates your category. Four categories: Individual, Relationship, Community, & Societal DO NOT tell the class which category you were assigned. We will guess after your performance.

BELL ACTIVITY Lesson 2 What is bullying?  A. Spreading rumors about people.  B. Telling someone they are ugly.  C. Pushing someone around.  D. Texting mean things to a person.  E. All of the above.

Does Bullying Lead to Violent Behaviors? Bullying can happen anywhere: face-to- face, by text messages or on the web. It is not limited by age, gender, or education level. It is not a phase and it is not a joke. Bullying can cause lasting harm.

Who is At Risk for Being Bullied? Generally, people that:  Do not get along well with others  Are less popular than others  Have few to no friends  Do not conform to gender norms  Have low self esteem  Are depressed or anxious

Who is At Risk for Bullying Others? Some people who at risk for bullying others are well-connected to their peers, have social power, and at least one of the following:  Are overly concerned about their popularity  Like to dominate or be in charge of others

What Does Not Increase Risk: Location. There are no differences in rates of bullying for urban, suburban, or rural communities. Bullying happens everywhere. School Size. The overall percentage of students being bullied does not vary based on school size, although bullying does happen more often in larger schools. Gender. Boys and girls are just as likely to be involved in bullying. Forms of bullying may vary by gender; for instance, some research has found that girls are more likely to bully others socially.

Cyber Bullying Cyberbullying, instead of happening face- to-face, happens through the use of technology such as computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Cyberbullying peaks around the end of middle school and the beginning of high school.

Examples of Cyber Bullying Sending hurtful, rude, or mean text messages to others Spreading rumors or lies about others by or on social networks Creating websites, videos or social media profiles that embarrass, humiliate, or make fun of others

Bullying online is very different from face- to-face bullying because messages and images can be: Sent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Shared be shared to a very wide audience Sent anonymously

Effects of Cyber Bullying Research on cyber bullying has found that students involved are more likely to:  Be unwilling to attend school  Receive poor grades  Have lower self-esteem  Have more health problems

Effects of Cyber Bullying… Cyberbullying can have particular affects on those who are targeted. Research has found that young people who have been cyberbullied are significantly more likely to:  Use alcohol and drugs  Skip school  Experience in-person bullying or victimization

Be Smart Online and Texting You can prevent cyberbullying by being careful of what you do:  Always think about what you post or say. Do not share secrets, photos or anything that might be embarrassing to you or others. What seems funny or innocent at the time could be used against you. You do not have complete control over what others forward or post.

Be Smart Online and Texting Cont’d  Set privacy settings on your accounts. Make sure that you are only sharing information with people you know and trust. Pay attention to notices from social networks, because sometimes privacy settings change.

Make Cyber Bullying Stop If you or someone you know is being cyberbullied, know that it does not have to be this way. There things you can do to help you and your friends:  Talk with someone you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. Reach out to a family member, friend or another adult that you trust.  Do not respond to cyberbullying. Sometimes people post or text teasing or name-calling to get a reaction. If someone has posted or sent a message that could be hurtful to others, refuse to pass it along or respond to it.

Make Cyber Bullying Stop Cont’d Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, s, and text messages. Block the person who is cyberbullying you. Many websites and phone companies let you block people. Also, cyberbullying may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of these services. Consider contacting the service provider to file a complaint.

Make Cyber Bullying Stop Cont’d Report the incident to your school. They may be able to help you resolve the cyberbullying or be watchful for face-to- face bullying. Ask for help. Sometimes, talking to a counselor or health professional can help you get through the emotional effects of bullying.

Test Your Knowledge About Bullying FACT: People who bully have power over those they bully.  People who bully others usually pick on those who have less social power (peer status), psychological power (know how to harm others), or physical power (size, strength). However, some people who bully also have been bullied by others. People who both bully and are bullied by others are at the highest risk for problems (such as depression and anxiety) and are more likely to become involved in risky or delinquent behavior.

FACT: Spreading rumors is a form of bullying.  Spreading rumors, name-calling, excluding others, and embarrassing them are all forms of social bullying that can cause serious and lasting harm.

MYTH: Only boys bully.  People think that physical bullying by boys is the most common form of bullying. However, verbal, social, and physical bullying happens among both boys and girls, especially as they grow older.

MYTH: People who bully are insecure and have low self-esteem.  Many people who bully are popular and have average or better-than-average self-esteem.  They often take pride in their aggressive behavior and control over the people they bully.  People who bully may be part of a group that thinks bullying is okay.  Some people who bully may also have poor social skills and experience anxiety or depression. For them, bullying can be a way to gain social status.

MYTH: Bullying usually occurs when there are no other students around.  Students see about four out of every five bullying incidents at school.  In fact, when they witness bullying, they give the student who is bullying positive attention or even join in about three-quarters of the time.  Although 9 out of 10 students say there is bullying in their schools, adults rarely see bullying, even if they are looking for it.

MYTH: Bullying often resolves itself when you ignore it.  Bullying reflects an imbalance of power that happens again and again.  Ignoring the bullying teaches students who bully that they can bully others without consequences.  Adults and other students need to stand up for children who are bullied, and to ensure they are protected and safe.

MYTH: All children will outgrow bullying.  For some, bullying continues as they become older. Unless someone intervenes, the bullying will likely continue and, in some cases, grow into violence and other serious problems. Children who consistently bully others often continue their aggressive behavior through adolescence and into adulthood.

MYTH: Reporting bullying will make the situation worse.  Research shows that children who report bullying to an adult are less likely to experience bullying in the future. Adults should encourage children to help keep their school safe and to tell an adult when they see bullying.

MYTH: Teachers often intervene to stop bullying.  Adults often do not witness bullying despite their good intentions. Teachers intervene in only 14 percent of classroom bullying episodes and in 4 percent of bullying incidents that happen outside the classroom.

MYTH: Nothing can be done at schools to reduce bullying.  School initiatives to prevent and stop bullying have reduced bullying by 15 to 50 percent. The most successful initiatives involve the entire school community of teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members.

MYTH: Parents are usually aware that their children are bullying others. Parents play a critical role in bullying prevention, but they often do not know if their children bully or are bullied by others. To help prevent bullying, parents need to talk with their children about what is happening at school and in the community.

Assignment Get in a group of 3 and create a bullying skit. It can be any type of bullying. Examples:  Cyber Bullying  Physical Bullying  Vocal Bullying  DO NOT tell the class which type of skit you are doing. When you present, the class will guess.

Lesson 3 Know the Risk Factors Before Bullying Begins | StopBullying.gov Know the Risk Factors Before Bullying Begins | StopBullying.gov Fill out the worksheet as you watch the video This will be turned in when class is over.