|
BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 3, 2011 – Catholic Charities’ school-based services have been working with school districts in Western New York on the issue of bullying for more than five years. As part of its character education efforts, two of its programs, School Intervention Services and the Catholic Urban Schools Social Work Project, have implemented a Bullying prevention curriculum.
When initially assessing a school or district’s needs, Catholic Charities’ social workers meet with principals and faculty to discuss the bullying problem, as well as other issues that interfere with classroom functioning and student learning, to help determine the most appropriate approach.
The goal of the groups Catholic Charities has facilitated in schools is to help recognize and reduce early behaviors surrounding bullying, through a combination of student and teacher education, identifying bullying patterns and options for redirection.
Groups explore the dynamics of bullying, students’ experiences with it, and ways to interrupt patterns that allow bullying to flourish. Particular attention is paid to appreciating diversity, and to recognizing bullying and how to stand up to bullies.
Maria Picone, program coordinator of Catholic Charities school-based services, noted the prevalence of bullying in today’s society.
“Research* is showing that bullying is not limited to school-age youth,” said Picone. “It extends to college and work places, and affects other groups of adults well beyond adolescence. It also leads us to understand that the more people become involved in stemming the problem, the better our chances of resolving it.”
Among Catholic Charities’ school-based programs are:
• School Intervention Service (SIS) – This program works helps to identify, and provide support and asset development for moderate and high-risk students. Services can include: individual, family or group counseling, collaboration and partnership with schools and other involved service providers, advocacy with community systems, providers and services, and participation in school/community-based events on request.
School districts utilizing SIS are Amherst Central, all Cheektowaga districts and the City of Tonawanda.
• Catholic Urban Schools Social Work Project – This program seeks to improve the quality of life for students and families of five urban schools. Program counselors work to enhance resiliency in low-income youth, provide them with character, strength, confidence and skills to succeed, address the needs of the whole child and partner with the family. Another component includes working with families and schools to build linkages and systems for other support among social service, educational and religious organizations.
Participating schools include Niagara Falls schools Catholic Academy and St. Dominic Savio, and Buffalo schools St. Joseph University, St. Margaret and Our Lady of Black Rock.
• Closing the Gap (CTG) in Student Performance – Provided in eight elementary Buffalo Public Schools, the school-based collaborative program offers a range of services to support students, families and faculty with the goal of academic success for the student. CTG Site Facilitators work with students, families, teachers and administrators – and community agencies as needed – to enhance learning conditions and remove barriers to academic success for students.
For more information about Catholic Charities school-based services and bullying prevention assistance, please call Maria Picone at 218-1450, ext. 227.
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive human service agency serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.
# # #
*Source: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado at Boulder.
|