Third Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week Calls on Communities to Unite

MINNEAPOLIS — It takes a community to prevent bullying of children. The Third Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, Oct 5-11, 2008 encourages communities nationwide to work together to increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of bullying on all children.

The week is sponsored by PACER's National Center for Bullying Prevention and cosponsored by the American Federation for Teachers, National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, National Education Association, National PTA, and School Social Work Association of America.

Families, students, schools, organizations and other groups can unite and partner with PACER to prevent bullying by contacting bullying411@PACER.org. Partnering organizations are asked to share their bullying prevention activities and will be listed on PACER's bullying prevention Web site.

Groups can work to stop bullying in several ways. Activities and materials such as contests, toolkits, and online bullying prevention training are available on www.PACER.org to help reduce bullying in schools, recreational programs, and community organizations.

"When 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied, it's time to take action," said Paula F. Goldberg, executive director of PACER, a national parent center located in Minnesota. "Teachers, parents, students and adults throughout each community must work together to create a climate that doesn't accept bullying. When bullying is reduced, communities will see more students with higher self-esteem, better school attendance, less physical and mental stress and better school performance."

PACER's Bullying Prevention Project is for all children, including children with disabilities. It promotes bullying awareness and teaches effective ways to respond to bullying.

PACER primarily serves families of children and youth with disabilities. It provides resources such as publications, workshops, and individualized assistance and helps families make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for their child. Its primary Web site is PACER.org, its phone numbers are 952-838-9000; 800-53-PACER (MN toll free); and 888-248-0822 (national toll free).

Editor: This news release can be downloaded at pacer.org/bullying/bpaw/media/index.asp. Experts are available through PACER for media interviews on topics, such as:

-- How can parents help their child who is being bullied?

-- What can schools and organizations do to prevent bullying and increase awareness of the issue?

-- What role do bystanders play in preventing bullying and what are methods to engage them?