“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” ~Chinese Proverb “A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” ~Chinese Proverb

School Violence Awareness Week October 19, October 23, 2009 CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL Working Together to Promote Peace

Did You Know...  Almost 7% of students nationwide said they had missed at least one day of school in the last month because they felt unsafe at school or when traveling to or from school. (National Youth Prevention Violence Resource Center)  More than 500,000 “attacks, shakedowns, and robberies” occur every month in secondary schools. (Olweus, National School Safety Center)  Students identified as bullies by the age of 8 are six times more likely to become involved in criminal behavior. (Olweus, National School Safety Center)  Almost 7% of students nationwide said they had missed at least one day of school in the last month because they felt unsafe at school or when traveling to or from school. (National Youth Prevention Violence Resource Center)  More than 500,000 “attacks, shakedowns, and robberies” occur every month in secondary schools. (Olweus, National School Safety Center)  Students identified as bullies by the age of 8 are six times more likely to become involved in criminal behavior. (Olweus, National School Safety Center)

Risk Factors That Contribute to Acts of Violence Individual:  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 Individual:  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

Risk Factors That Contribute to Acts of Violence Family:  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 Family:  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:  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 Peer/Social:  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 Risk Factors That Contribute to Acts of Violence

Community:  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 Community:  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 Risk Factors That Contribute to Acts of Violence

Warning Signs of Violent Behavior Immediate:  loss of temper on a daily basis  frequent physical fighting  significant vandalism or property damage  increase in use of drugs or alcohol  increase in risk-taking behavior  detailed plans to commit acts of violence  announcing threats or plans for hurting others  enjoying hurting animals  carrying a weapon Immediate:  loss of temper on a daily basis  frequent physical fighting  significant vandalism or property damage  increase in use of drugs or alcohol  increase in risk-taking behavior  detailed plans to commit acts of violence  announcing threats or plans for hurting others  enjoying hurting animals  carrying a weapon

Warning Signs of Violent Behavior Over a period of time:  a history of violent or aggressive behavior  serious drug or alcohol use  gang membership or strong desire to be in a gang  access to or fascination with weapons, especially guns  threatening others regularly  trouble controlling feelings like anger  withdrawal from friends and usual activities  feeling rejected or alone  having been a victim of bullying  poor school performance  history of discipline problems or frequent run-ins with authority  feeling constantly disrespected  failing to acknowledge the feelings or rights of others Over a period of time:  a history of violent or aggressive behavior  serious drug or alcohol use  gang membership or strong desire to be in a gang  access to or fascination with weapons, especially guns  threatening others regularly  trouble controlling feelings like anger  withdrawal from friends and usual activities  feeling rejected or alone  having been a victim of bullying  poor school performance  history of discipline problems or frequent run-ins with authority  feeling constantly disrespected  failing to acknowledge the feelings or rights of others

Reactive Response to Warning Signs:  Do NOT keep it to yourself  Act IMEDIATELY, even if you only have a suspicion  Report any concerns to your counselor and/or administrator  Document your observations and interventions  Do NOT keep it to yourself  Act IMEDIATELY, even if you only have a suspicion  Report any concerns to your counselor and/or administrator  Document your observations and interventions

Proactive Response to Warning Signs:  Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities  Build a home - school partnership  Be an ally to the student  Identify at-risk students early in order to connect them to services  Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities  Build a home - school partnership  Be an ally to the student  Identify at-risk students early in order to connect them to services

According to the Departments of Education and Justice An Effective School Violence Prevention Program Should…  Teach appropriate behaviors and problem solving skills.  Use positive discipline and positive behavior supports.  Support mental and emotional wellness in addition to academic success.  Identify students at behavioral and academic risk and create supports that address risk factors and build protective factors.  Provide coordinated services to meet the needs of these students.  Identify and provide intensive interventions for those with significant emotional and behavioral problems.  Teach appropriate behaviors and problem solving skills.  Use positive discipline and positive behavior supports.  Support mental and emotional wellness in addition to academic success.  Identify students at behavioral and academic risk and create supports that address risk factors and build protective factors.  Provide coordinated services to meet the needs of these students.  Identify and provide intensive interventions for those with significant emotional and behavioral problems.

81% of school attackers tell someone of their plans beforehand [Data from “Safe School Initiative,” developed by the US Secret Service and US Department of Education, For more information: Encourage kids to break the silence through anonymous reporting to a trusted staff member. 911 DYFS: nd Floor: (help line for kids) Weapon Report: SPEAKUP 81% of school attackers tell someone of their plans beforehand [Data from “Safe School Initiative,” developed by the US Secret Service and US Department of Education, For more information: Encourage kids to break the silence through anonymous reporting to a trusted staff member. 911 DYFS: nd Floor: (help line for kids) Weapon Report: SPEAKUP