Bullying Free Future
We should all strive for cultures of kindness.
WHO WE ARE
Bullying Free Future is a 501c4 non-profit organization that is dedicated to bullying prevention and advocacy.
The mission of the Bullying Free Future is to increase community awareness as well as promote bullying prevention to address the frequency and severity of bullying in school systems.
BFF's primary purpose is to provide support for students who have experienced bullying. We will also provide advocacy for families / students who have been bullied and provide bullying intervention programs to schools to increase bullying prevention efforts.
WHAT WE DO
Our goals:
Provide education on prevalence of bullying
Provide support for students who have been bullied
Collaborate with local schools on bullying prevention efforts
Provide advocacy to parents / families of students who have experienced bullying.
Engage in school and community-wide anti-bullying campaigns
Participate in media campaigns for bullying prevention
RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT IMPLEMENTING BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMS CAN REDUCE BULLYING INCIDENTS BY 25%
We will advocate on behalf of bullied students and their families. BFF will provide education and support to parents, students, teachers, administrators as well as the community-at-large, as well as promote cultures of kindness in schools.
BULLYING IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
DID YOU KNOW??
22 % of students in grades 9-12 report being bullied
49% of students in grades 4-12 report being bullied at least once
1 in 6 high school students rpeort being bullied electronically
30% of female students report being bullied at school
19% of male students report being bullied at school
14% of school districts nationwide report that bullying is a rpoblem that occurs daily to at least once per week.
Per school type, middle schools comprise 28% of schools who report bullying data, followed by high schools which comprise 16%, followed by combined Jr/ Sr high schools comprising 12% and elementary schools which comprise 9%.
73% of students who identify as LGBTQ+ were bullied during 2023-2024
22% of students who report being bullied are heterosexual
Of those students who report being bullied:
13% were made fun of, called names, or insulted
13% were the subject of rumors
5% were pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on
5% were excluded from activities on purpose.
Bullied students reported that bullying occurred in the following places:
43% in the hallway or stairwell at school
42% inside the classroom
27% in the cafeteria
22% outside on school grounds
15% online or by text
12% in the bathroom or locker room
8% on the school bus
46% of bullied students report notifying an adult at school about the incident
41% of students who report being bullied at school indicated that they think the bullying would happen again
74% of U.S. parents with children under 18 report being extremely worried / somewhat worried about their chidlren being bullied at some point at school
CYBERBULLYING
37% of 12 to 17 year-olds reported online harassment
25% of 12-17 year-olds reported someone write a mean comment about them
22% of 12-17 year-olds reported a damaging rumor / gossip story was written about them
The most frequently reported reasons for being bullied include: physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation.
(Data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019 and Center for Disease Control Violence Bullying fact Sheet; Stopbullying.gov survey data)
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv/bullying-factsheet508.pdf
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2015056
INDIANA'S DEFINITION OF BULLYING
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), per Indiana statute IC 20-33-8-.2, defines bullying as: overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically), physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors, that are committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other targeted student and create for the targeted student an objectively hostile school environment that:
(1) places the targeted student in reasonable fear of harm to the targeted student's person or property;
(2) has a substantially detrimental effect on the targeted student's physical or mental health;
(3) has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's academic performance; or
(4) has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, and privileges provided by the school
The IDOE defines four categories of bullying:
(1) Physical: involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. It includes hitting/kicking/punching, spitting, tripping or pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, and making mean or rude hand gestures.
(2) Verbal: involves saying mean things. It can include teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, or threatening to cause harm.
(3) Social/Relational: involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying involves telling other children not to be friends with someone, leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors about someone, or embarrassing someone in public.
(4) Electronic/Written Communication: involves cyber-bullying, collective or group note writing, any bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices (computer, cell phones)
Want to learn more?
Visit the Indiana Department of Education website
KNOW THE LAW
Every school in Indiana is required to institute and enforce rules prohibiting student-on-student bullying. (Ind. Code Ann. § 20-33-8-135.) UPDATED based on Indiana House Bill 1483 that went into effect July 1st 2023
Indiana public schools must provide age appropriate, research-based instruction focusing on bullying prevention for all students in grades 1 through 12.
Indiana school discipline rules prohibiting bullying must include a detailed procedure outlining the use of follow-up services that include must include support services for the victim and include bullying education for the alleged perpetrator.
Indiana school dicipline rules should include policies that must allow parents to review any bullying and suicide prevention materials provided to students
The governing body of each school corporation shall work with parents to develop and periodically review an evidence-based plan for improving student behavior and discipline in the school corporation after receiving a model plan developed by the department.
School discipline rules must also include reporting acts of bullying and abusive behaviors to the parents of both the targeted victim and the alleged perpetrator WITHIN 5 business days.
The principal or designee shall conduct a thorough and complete investigation for each report of an alleged incident of bullying received. The investigation shall be initiated by the principal or the principal’s designee within one school day of the report of the incident
The investigation shall be completed and the written findings submitted to the principal as soon as possible, but not later than five school days from the date of the report of the alleged incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The principal shall submit the report to the superintendent of the school corporation within ten (10) school days of the completion of the investigation. The superintendent or his/her designee shall report the results of each investigation to the board of education on a quarterly basis during regularly scheduled board meetings.
AS A PARENT, WHAT CAN I DO IF
MY CHILD IS BEING BULLIED?
LISTEN - ask questions that encourage them to talk. Even if you know all the students involved, don’t make assumptions
PROVIDE SUPPORT - Let them know that they are not alone, and you are there to help.
EMPOWER - help your child learn self-advocacy. Work together to create an action plan outlining a strategy and response to the bullying.
IDENTIFY OTHERS WHO CAN HELP - Who are the other adults in your child's life that can help them feel supported both at home and at school?
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - Request a copy of the school's bullying policy
DOCUMENT- Keep track of any and all communications with the school and keep it factual (dates of incidents, description of incidents, including screenshots of any cyberbullying texts, social media posts etc. and keep all emails, letters you send or receive from the school).
REMEMBER THAT BEING BULLIED CAN LEAD TO FEELING POWERLESS, WITH NO VOICE. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD'S VOICE IS HEARD AND HELP YOUR CHILD GET POWER BACK!
Bullying Free Future Outreach Updates:
2024
From Ocotber 2023 through May 2024, BFF conducted on-site Bullying Intervention / Empathy Program and on-site support groups to Oregon-Davis Jr/SR High School in Hamlet, IN.
BFF was awarded a grant by Oregon-Davis school for their bullying intervention program and support groups in March 2024.
BFF conducted school-wide Bullying Prevention and Awareness Training to Wanatah Schools in Wanatah, IN.
BFF conducted school-wide Bullying Prevention and Awareness Training to Hebron Elementary School in Hebron, IN.
BFF conducted school-wide Bully Prevention and Awareness Training to Oregon-Davis Jr/ Sr High School in Hamlet, IN.
2022 / 2023
BFF participatecd in the Jasper County school supply giveaway July 29, 2023.
BFF has been implementing support groups and a Bullying Intervention Program at Oregon-Davis Schools during the 2022-2023 school year.
BFF coordinated a parent meeting with Hebron Schools.
During October 2022,(Bullying Prevention Month), Bullying Free Future conducted a school-wide presentation at Oregon-Davis Jr/Sr High School. Students made a positivity wall in which they wrote kind, positive messages to each other.
Also in October, Bullying Free Future distributed information and over 500 "Be a buddy not a bully" bracelets between Hebron High School and Oregon Davis School.
We also provided support to a family in South Dakota.
Jennifer Dudrey, MSW, LCSW
219-334-5804
Executive Director/Founder
Email: jenniferd@bullyingfreefuture.com
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
219-334-5804
Lend a helping hand and join our efforts. We are always looking got volunteers to help raise awareness about bullying and help create a harassment-free community.ORIf you or someone you know is being bullied and you need support or advocacy, please contact us and we will determine how we can help!Email us: bullyingfreefuture@gmail.com
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WANT TO HELP??
Contact us today to learn more!
219-334-5804
RESOURCES and HOTLINE NUMBERS
Suicide Hotline : 988 Suicide & Crisis number (call or text 988) and the Crisis Text Line number (741741)
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/ Self-harm hotline: Self-Abuse Finally Ends (SAFE): 1-800-366-8288
https://www.stopbullying.gov/ Addiction Hotline (SAMHSA):1-844-289-0879
https://www.palmerlakerecovery.com Social Media Addiction Statistics - The Lanier Law Firm
consumernotice.org/data-protection/internet-safety-for-kids/#cyberbullying-prevention
TAKE THE PLEDGE
BULLYING FREE FUTURE
HAS JOINED THE NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION CENTER’S “TAKE THE PLEDGE” NETWORK
DO YOU…………
Treat others with dignity and kindness
Accept others who are different from you
Support others who have been hurt or harassed
Help to include others when you see them being left out
Speak up when you see something that is wrong
Then TAKE THE PLEDGE!
By taking the pledge, you are joining others to promote kindness, help support others who have been bullied, include others who are left out, speak up if you see someone being bullied, be a positive peer at your school and in your community. Stand up to bullying by standing out with kindness!
Be a buddy, not a bully!
I pledge to be kind, treat others with dignity and respect, include others, support others, and speak up.
_________________________________________________
Signature Date
I am a (check one): ____ Student ____ Parent ____ Teacher ____ School Staff
www.bullyingfreefuture.com Email: bullyingfreefuture@gmail.com
Phone: 219-334-5804
link: www.PACER.org/bullying