#StopBullying

Monday, November 7, 2011

David Shuster condemns Michigan Republicans for bill that supports bullying

“Countdown” guest host David Shuster calls out Michigan’s Republican lawmakers for moving a so-called anti-bullying bill forward with language that actually protects bullies. Shuster calls “Matt’s Law” – named after a 14-year-old boy who killed himself in 2002 after anti-gay classmates poured syrup and crushed eggs on his head – “an embarrassment to anybody with half a brain in the great state of Michigan.”

Monday, October 31, 2011

October- Bullying Prevention Month

Many people today view bullying as a right of passage. But in today's world, cyberbullying has made this "minute" problem into a serious situation for people of all ages. In the age of social media, smart phones, and the internet, people today can not escape from the torture brought on by peers. Now, the students of Eastern New Mexico University has taken a stand against bullying.

The Trevor Project (866-488-7386)

Mission

The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including our nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone.

Vision

A future where the possibilities, opportunities and dreams are the same for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Organizational Values

Acceptance

Inclusiveness is one of our mantras. We are rooted in the belief that everyone should be treated like a human being regardless of their sexual identity, gender, or race. We as an organization will not turn any one away who asks for help. We will show them compassion. And, in recruiting staff and volunteers we will reflect the diversity of our community.

Commitment

We promise to deliver the best 24 hour 7 day a week telephone counseling for youth in crisis. We promise to create a safe space, through our lifeline and online, for LGBTQ youth. We promise to deliver our message of suicide prevention in schools throughout the country. We promise to hire a highly qualified and professional staff and providing them with incentives. We promise to operate our board, our committees, our lifeline, our offices and our events with the utmost integrity.

Innovation

We have been and will continue to be pioneers in reaching out to youth in crisis; whether it's in schools, on the lifeline or online. We will be stewards in nonprofit fundraising (events, Circle of Hope, direct mail campaigns). We will be innovative in our recruiting and retention of staff, volunteers, and board members.

History of The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project was founded by writer James Lecesne, director/producer Peggy Rajski and producer Randy Stone, creators of the 1994 Academy Award®-winning short film, Trevor, a comedy/drama about a gay 13-year-old boy who, when rejected by friends because of his sexuality, makes an attempt to take his life.
When Trevor was scheduled to air on HBO® in 1998, the filmmakers realized that some of the program’s young viewers might be facing the same kind of crisis as Trevor, and began to search for an appropriate support line to broadcast during the airing. They discovered that no such lifeline existed, and decided to dedicate themselves to forming what was, in their view, a much-needed resource: an organization to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group. Thus, The Trevor Project was born, and with seed funding provided by The Colin Higgins Foundation, The Trevor Lifeline was established and became the first and only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
Today, in addition to operating the crisis and suicide prevention lifeline, The Trevor Project provides online support to young people through the organization’s Web site, as well as lifesaving guidance and vital resources for educators and parents.

Strategic Plan

Priority Directives
(Five Year Key planned accomplishments FY2010-2015)

1. IMPACT: to increase the number of LGBTQ youth accessing program services using state-ofthe-art technology in order to reduce suicide risk.

Maintain operations and accreditation of Trevor’s 24/7 crisis and prevention lifeline
Expand school workshop programming and implement online training
Maintain annual evaluation of program services

2. AWARENESS: to create greater acceptance of LGBTQ youth in schools and at home through suicide prevention education to reduce peer and family rejection.

Create formal strategic partnerships with public school districts (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Washington DC)
Actively engage religious communities in a dialogue for advice and support
Promote family acceptance of LGBTQ youth

3. ADVOCACY: to advance comprehensive suicide prevention policies and mandates in schools using evidence based research in order to reduce harassment and bullying of LGBTQ youth.

Require state youth risk assessment surveys to include sexual orientation
Implement a successful, exportable, grass roots model for mandating suicide prevention training in schools

4. EXPERTISE: to communicate The Trevor’s Project’s mission and scope of work as directly and sincerely as possible in order to become a respected and frequently cited resource for national media.

Enhance our position as a one of a kind resource for LGBTQ youth and their families
Obtain a variety of top-tier press coverage regarding the epidemic of LGBTQ youth suicide and the programs/services offered by The Trevor Project

5. EFFICIENCY: to strengthen organizational capacity by engaging more volunteers and donors to ensure long-term sustainability.

Establish a cultural philosophy that states “It is my privilege to solicit contributions for The Trevor Project”, resulting in a reliably funded organization whose fundraising increases year-over-year.
Enhance the organization’s functional expense ratio so that 75% or more of our financial resources are devoted to programmatic efforts
Strive for geographic and gender parity on the board of directors
Continue fundraising training for all Board members providing mentors to support one another
Provide meaningful involvement for all volunteers, especially engaging more women and people of color

Stomp Out Bullying

The Issue of Bullying

Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and 43% of kids have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids on its receiving end, but the parents, teachers and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Love Our Children USA is working aggressively to prevent these issues and to help the kids and teens affected by it.

Bullying Statistics
• 1 out of 4 teens are Bullied.
• 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school and online.
• As many as 160,000 students stay home on any given day because they're afraid of being bullied.
• 1 out of 5 kids admits to being a bully, or doing some "Bullying."
• 43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school.
• A poll of teens ages 12-17 proved that they think violence increased at their schools.
• 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
• More youth violence occurs on school grounds as opposed to on the way to school.
• 80% of the time, an argument with a bully will end up in a physical fight.
• 1/3 of students surveyed said they heard another student threaten to kill someone.
• 2 out of 3 say they know how to make a bomb, or know where to get the information to do it.
• Playground statistics - Every 7 minutes a child is bullied. Adult intervention -4% Peer intervention - 11%. No intervention -   85%.

Cyber Bullying Statistics

• 43% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 97% of middle schoolers are bullied while onine.
• 47% of of older youth 18-24 are cyberbullied.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more   than   once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than   once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Some feel that bullying is a normal right of passage in growing up. It isn’t!! There will always be conflicts between kids, but bullying is intentional cruelty, harassment, and emotional, physical and sometimes sexual abuse. This behavior can set the tone for a lifetime of intentional cruelty or worse. And the consequences to the victim can seriously affect them for the rest of their lives.

Together we can STOMP Out Bullying™!

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/youthviolence/index.html
http://www.Olweus.org
http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/
http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/violence-in-schools/national-statistics.html