The most effective bullying programs utilize a systemic approach that engages the entire organization, resulting in changes for all parties involved: students, staff and parents. Such approaches typically have five components:
Improved policies and procedures that provide more specific guidelines on bullying
A bullying prevention specialist or point person at each school or site who evaluates each situation and works with staff to determine the appropriate follow-up, identify the problems of vulnerable children, gathers information from bystanders, and imposes consequences for children who bully others.
Ongoing surveys of each school or site and various age groups within the site to document objective data (who, what when, where and how) and subjective data (why people believe it happens, how it affects them).
Train all staff to recognize and intervene when acts of bullying are observed. Generally, staff must know how to stop the action, tie the behavior to a principle, and task the bystanders to be more responsible.
Involve responsible youth as role models both within and outside of the program.