Bullying Prevention

Nationwide Resources on Bullying Prevention:

• Federation for Children with Special Needs - supporting families from birth to adulthood
• National Disability Rights Network: Connects you to state-based Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems that offer legal and advocacy support.
• Tip Sheet from US Government/Health and Human Services
• Prevention Tips from Stop Bullying US Government Website

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, through its Children’s Justice Unit webpage, offers helpful resources focused on addressing hate and bullying in schools, protecting youth mental health through safe social media practices, ensuring equal access to education, and supporting child welfare and juvenile justice. Resources available include:

• Combating Hate in Our Schools: A Guide for Families and Students
• Addressing Hate and Bias in Schools Q&A
• Think Before You Send: Facts About Sexting and Cyberbullying
• Cell Phones and Social Media in Schools: A Toolkit for School Leaders and Communities
• Addressing Hate in School Sports Initiative

Massachusetts Resources for Bullying and Discrimination: Emotional Support

• Natick Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
• Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State
• Boston Children's Hospital Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Advocacy Program (BACPAC) 

Massachusetts Resources for Bullying and Discrimination: Reporting and Legal Services

• Disability Rights Massachusetts (DRM) - On this page, Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) lists the laws about abuse, neglect, and hate toward people with disabilities, and who to contact for enforcement.
• Massachusetts Advocates for Children (Has a helpline)
• Disability Law Center - DLC is a private, non-profit organization responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities.

Resources on Being an Upstander:

• ADL (Anti-Defamation League) many articles and webinars in how to address bullying & cyberbullying (HERE)
• Rachel Simmons - (girls, friendships & leadership) HERE
• Katie Hurley (for younger girls) - HERE
• Rosalind Wiseman - (for adolescent youth) HERE
• Prevnet (Canadian) - great general resources, including info re: LGBTQ bullying (here)
• Classroom Conversations (for Educators + Parents)(HERE)

Recommended Books:

• Middle School Matters by Phyllis Fagell (here)
• Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman (here)
• Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman (here)
• Untangled by Lisa Damour (here)
• Enough as She Is by Rachel Simmons (here)
• No More Mean Girls by Katie Hurley (younger ages) (here)

Recommended Articles:

• “9 Ways Parents Can Help Bullied Kids Learn Resilience,” Washington Post.
• “Bullying on the Bus: How Should Parents Handle it,” Healthy Children.
• “What teens wish their parents knew about social media,” Washington Post.
• “Three ways to teach kids to find compassion and empathy behind the screen,” Washington Post.
• “How to Speak Up When It Matters,” Harvard Business Review.

Cyberbullying and Internet Safety

• Cyberbullying Research Center
• Common Sense Media
• TrendMicro Internet Safety for Kids and Families
• Connect Safely 

Sameer Hinduja Cyberbullying: Translations in English, Spanish and Portuguese

• Cyberbullying Identification, Prevention, and Response
• Technology Contract
• Tips for Parents When Your Child Has Been Cyberbullied
• Tips for Parents When Your Child Cyberbullies others
• Questions Parents Should Ask

Featured Video: Dr. Hinduja (in English, Spanish, and Portuguese) 

Recommended Apps to Monitor Children’s Social Media Use:

• Circle
• Bark