# Presentation: 037377

## Comprehensive Violence Prevention

*Cynthia L. Timmons, M.Ed.*
*University of Oklahoma Outreach*
*College of Continuing Education*

***Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee***
***Washington, D.C.  /  August 21, 2006***

## Outline of Presentation

- Assessment Phase
- Early Warning Signs
- Imminent Warning Signs
- Intervention Procedures & Strategies
- Comprehensive School-wide Prevention & Intervention Plan
- Elements of Promising Programs
- Action Steps

- Early Warning Timely Response

## ASSESSMENT PHASE

- Early Warning Timely Response

## 1.  Focus on Academic Achievement

*This is the responsibility of the student, the school and the home.*

*Attitude that all children can achieve academically and       behave appropriately*
*Adequate resources and programs *
*Expectations are communicated clearly*

## 2.  Involve Families in Meaningful Ways

*Students whose families are involved in their growth in and outside of school are more likely to experience school success.*

*Make parents feel welcome in school*
*address barriers to their participation*
*keep families positively engaged in their children’s education*
*support families in expressing concerns*
*support families in getting the help they need to address behaviors that cause concern*

## 3.  Develop Links to the Community

*When these links are weak, the risk of school violence is heightened and the opportunity to serve children who are at risk for violence or who may be affected by it is decreased.*

*Everyone must be committed:*
*families*
*support services*
*community police*
*faith-based community*
*community at large*

## 4. Emphasize Positive Relationships Among Students and Staff

*Positive relationship with an adult who is available to provide support when needed is one of the most critical factors in preventing student violence.*

*Opportunities should exist for adults to spend quality personal time with children*
*foster positive student interpersonal relations*
*encourage students to help each other*
*feel comfortable assisting others in getting help when needed*

## 5. Discuss Safety Issues Openly

*Children come to school with many different perceptions - and misconceptions - about death, violence and the use of weapons.*

*Teach children. . . . .*
* **about the dangers of firearms*
*appropriate strategies for dealing with feelings*
*expressing anger in appropriate ways*
*resolving conflicts*
*that they are responsible for their actions*

## 6. Treat Students With Equal Respect

*A major source of conflict in many schools is the perceived or real problem of bias and unfair treatment of students*

*Effective schools . . . . .*
*Communicate to students and the greater community that all children are valued and respected*
*there is a deliberate and systematic effort to establish a climate that demonstrates care and a sense of community*

## 7. Create Ways For Students to Share Their Concerns

*It has been found  that peers often are the most likely group to know in advance about potential school violence.*

*Schools must create ways for students . . . .*
*to report potential school violence in a protected manner*
*to support and foster positive relationships between students and adults*
*to feel safe providing information about a potentially dangerous situation*

## 8. Help Children Feel Safe Expressing Their Feelings

*It is very important that children feel safe when expressing their needs , fears and  anxieties to school staff.*

*When students do not have access to caring adults, feelings of . . .*
*Isolation*
*rejection and*
*disappointment*
*are more likely to occur, increasing the probability of acting-out behavior*

## 9. Have in Place a System for Referring Children Who Are Suspected of Being Abused or Neglected

*The referral system must be appropriate and reflect federal and state guidelines.*

*School Counselors*
*Student Assistance Teams*
*School Social Workers*
*School Nurses*
*School Resource Officers*

## 10. Offer Extended Day Programs for Children 

*School-based before and after school programs can be effective in reducing violence*

*Effective programs are well supervised and provide children with support and a range of options such as . . . . . .*
*	**Counseling**	**	**	**Tutoring*
*	**Mentoring**	**	**	**Cultural Arts*
*	**Community Service**	**	**Clubs*
*	**Access to Computers**	**	**Help with Homework*

## 11. Promote Good Citizenship and Character

*In addition to their academic mission, schools must help students become good citizens.*

*Schools stand for the civic values set forth in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. . . .****Patriotism -Freedom of Religion, speech and press -Equal protection/nondiscrimination -Due process/fairness***
*Schools also reinforce and promote the shared values of their local communities such as ****honesty, kindness, responsibility and respect for others***
*Schools should acknowledge that ****parents are the primary moral educators of their children and work in partnership with them***

## 12. Identify Problems and Assess Progress Toward Solutions

*Schools must openly and objectively examine circumstances that are potentially dangerous for students and staff and situations where members of the school community feel threatened or intimidated.*

*Continually assess progress by identifying problems and collecting information regarding progress toward solutions*
*Share this information with students, families and the community at large*

## 13. Support Students in Making the Transition to Adult Life and the Workplace

*Youth need assistance in planning their future and in developing skills that will result in success.*

*Provide students with community service opportunities*
*work-0study programs*
*apprenticeships*
*help connect students to caring adults in the community*
***These relationships, when established early, foster in youth a sense of hope and security for the future.***

## EARLY WARNING SIGNS

- Early Warning Timely Response

## PRINCIPLES FOR IDENTITYING THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS:

*Do no harm*
*Understand violence and aggression within a context*
*Avoid stereotypes*
*View warning signs within a developmental context*
*Understand that children typically exhibit multiple warning signs*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## EARLY WARNING SIGNS

***Social withdrawal***
***Excessive feelings of isolation and being alone***
***Excessive feelings of rejection***
***Being a victim of violence***
***Feelings of being picked on and persecuted***
***Low school interest and poor academic performances***
***Expression of violence in writings & drawings***
***Uncontrolled anger***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## EARLY WARNING SIGNS

***Patterns of Impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating and bullying behaviors***
***History of discipline problems***
***Past history of violent and aggressive behavior***
***Intolerance for differences & prejudicial attitudes***
***Alcohol and other drug use***
***Affiliation with gangs***
***Inappropriate access to, possession of and use of firearms***
***Serious threats of violence***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## IMMINENT WARNING SIGNS

- Early Warning Timely Response

## IMMINENT WARNING SIGNS . . . . 

***Serious physical fighting with peers or family members***
***Severe destruction of property***
***Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons***
***Detailed threats of lethal violence***
***Possession and/or use of firearms and other weapons***
***Other self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## INTERVENTION PROCEDURES AND STRATEGIES

- Early Warning Timely Response

## INTERVENTION: Getting Help for Troubled Children

***Share responsibility by establishing a partnership with the child, school, home and community***
***Inform parents and listen to them when early warning signs are observed***
***Maintain confidentiality and parent’s rights to privacy***
***Develop the capacity of staff, students and families to intervene***
***Support students in being responsible for their actions***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## INTERVENTION:  CONT’D

*Simplify staff requests for urgent assistance*
*Make intervention available as early as possible*
*Use sustained, multiple, coordinated interventions*
*Analyze the context in which violent behavior occurs*
*Build upon and coordinate internal school resources*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-WIDE PREVENTION & INTERVENTION PLAN

- Early Warning Timely Response

##  KEY COMPONENTS TO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION

***Administrative Leadership***
***Environmental Security***
***Staff Safety – Training***
***Classroom Safety***
***Staff Intervention/Postvention***
***Community Commitment***
*“**Violence prevention is successful only when it responds *
*to all levels of the system and participants in the system”*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## SEVEN ELEMENTS OF“PROMISING PROGRAMS”

***1.  Comprehensive Approach***
***2.  Early Start and Long-Term Commitment***
***3.  Strong Leadership and Disciplinary Actions***
***4.  Staff Development***
***5.  Family Involvement***
***6.  Interagency Partnerships and Community Linkages***
***7.  Culturally Sensitive and Developmentally Appropriate***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## “We must avoid fragmentation in implementing programs.  The concepts in preventing and responding to violence must be integrated into effective school reform, including socially and academically supportive instruction and caring a welcoming atmosphere and providing good options for recreation and enrichment.”

***Howard Adelman***
***Professor of Psychology***
***University of California Los Angeles ***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

***Parents can help create safe schools. ***
*Discuss the school’s discipline policy with your child.  Show your support for the rules and help your child understand the reasons for them.*
*Involve your child in setting rules for appropriate behavior at home.*
*Talk with your child about the violence he or she sees - on television, in video games, and possibly in the neighborhood. *
*Help your child see the consequences of violence*
*Teach your child how to solve problems*
*Help your child find ways to show anger that do not involve verbally or physically hurting others*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## PARENTS ACTION cont’d

*Note any disturbing behaviors in your child*
*Keep lines of communication open*
*Listen to your child if he or she shares concerns about friends*
*Be involved in your child’s school life by supporting and reviewing homework, talking with his or her teacher and attending school functions*
*Encourage your school to offer before- and after-school programs*
*Volunteer to work with school-based groups concerned about violence*
*Talk with the parents of your child’s friends*
*Help your child understand the value of accepting individual differences**** ***

- Early Warning Timely Response

## ACTION STEPS FOR STUDENTS

*There is much students can do to help create safe schools.  Talk to your teachers, parents and counselor to find out how you can get involved and do your part to make your school safe.  *
*Listen to your friends if they share troubling feelings or thoughts*
*Create, join or support student organizations that combat violence*
*Work with local businesses and community groups to organize  youth-oriented activities*
*Participate in violence prevention programs such as peer mediation and conflict resolution*
*Volunteer to be a mentor for younger students and/or provide tutoring to your peers*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## STUDENTS  cont’d

*Work with your teachers and administrators to create a safe process for reporting threats, intimidation, weapon possession, drug dealing, gang activity, graffiti and vandalism*
*Be a role model*
*Know your school’s code of conduct and model responsible behavior*
*Seek help from your parents or a trusted adult*
*Get involved in planning, implementing and evaluating your school’s violence prevention and response plan*

- Early Warning Timely Response

## ACTION PLANNING CHECKLIST

- Prevention-Intervention-Crisis Response
***What to Look For - Key Characteristics of Responsive and Safe Schools***
***What to Look For - Early Warning Signs of Violence***
***What to Do - Intervention:  Getting Help for Troubled Children***
***What do Do - Crisis Response***

- Early Warning Timely Response

- Keeping Our Children Safe Is Everyone's Responsibility

- Early Warning Timely Response

## COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION

*CYNTHIA L. TIMMONS, M.Ed.*
*ctimmons@ou.edu*
*The University of Oklahoma OUTREACH*
*College of Continuing Education*
*555 East Constitution*
*Norman, OK  73072*
*Phone: 1-405-325-5454 Fax: (405) 325-5495*