Bully Prevention Training
Is Your School or District Ready to Implement House Bill 7?

House Bill 7 requires school districts and charter schools to prohibit bullying and to develop school wide bullying prevention programs.

Since 1998, the YMCA Resource Center of Delaware has done bullying prevention trainings for thousands of youth and adults throughout Delaware  The Resource Center ’s Building a Bully-Proof School is a comprehensive, research basedschool wide bullying prevention program.

Through the Resource Center, the YMCA of Delaware takes its mission beyond its members to tens of thousands of young people and adults each year. This positive force radiates belief in the individual, commitment to character values and the expectation that individuals can bring about changes to strengthen kids, their families and their communities.

Helping children and young people become responsible and self-confident is particularly challenging today because negative influences are so pervasive in our society. The Resource Center focuses on helping people make healthy choices, turning them away from addictions to alcohol and drugs, violence and other destructive influences. The YMCA Resource Center supports positive life choices in Sussex, Kent and New Castle Counties through training, youth programs, leadership counseling, public information and technical assistance. Our partnerships with other area organizations that share our goals strengthen our ability to make a difference.

House Bill 7, signed by Governor Ruth Ann Minner, May 18, 2007, requires school districts and charter schools to establish a policy which at a minimum includes a statement prohibiting bullying and the development of a school wide bullying prevention program which would be implemented throughout the year.

The YMCA Resource Center of Delaware is ready to do school wide bullying prevention programs in Delaware schools and assist them in meeting the requirements of House Bill 7.  We have been doing these programs in many Delaware schools for nine years because we too recognize the importance of providing safe learning environments for all students and all public education employees.

The Resource Center has developed bullying prevention programs for kindergarten through twelfth grades and adult groups. The programs are research-based and provide participants tools to handle bullying effectively and to decrease incidences of bullying.

In addition, the trainings are “hands on”. In younger grades, children use puppets to act out real life bullying situations and practice effective responses to the situations. Older students present skits about bullying, including cyber bullying, and create endings for the skits that show effective responses to the bully. Adult leaders are given follow-up materials to use with children. In separate adult workshops, participants are taught skills they can teach children to use to handle bullies. Adults also learn techniques to create environments where there is a minimum of bullying.

Knowing that the most effective way to create a bully-proof school is to involve the entire school community, the Resource Center also offers a comprehensive Building a Bully-Proof School program. This program includes training for all school staff, a workshop for parents, a minimum of one training for each class of students, and victim groups.

The Resource Center ’s bullying prevention programs support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ anti-bullying campaign, “Take a Stand, Lend a Hand, Stop Bullying Now!”  http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov      

Program Testimonials

“So good for student – gives student right skills to deal with people who are not nice. Gave confidence – teaches how to stick up for themselves. Gives power – chance to practice in a supportive setting.  Common bond.” Parent of Student Who Was in a Building a Bully-Proof School Victim Group

“Asking the students to do the skits was wonderful.  The children providing their own ways to deal with bullying allows them to own the solution and is more effective.” Teacher

“The skits were an excellent way to help the students find positive ways to stop bullying!” Teacher

“The kids really enjoy this program.  I also learned some good tips for helping children deal with bullies.” Teacher

Great preventive program for those who are bullied or may bully.” Teacher

“A first grade parent had done nothing but sing the praises of having her child in the victim support group.  Both parent and teacher have reported marked improvement in the student’s overall attitude and social interactions.”

For more information on the YMCA Resource Center's Bully Prevention programs and how we can design and implement a program tailored to meet your needs and resources, contact the Resource Center office nearest you or email us at YMCAResourceCenter@ymcade.org