National Bullying Prevention Month

National Bullying Prevention Month
Name	National Bullying Prevention Month
Formation	2006
Founder	PACER Center
Type	Awareness campaign
Headquarters	Minneapolis
Location	United States

National Bullying Prevention Month is an annual observance held in October that seeks to raise awareness about bullying and promote prevention strategies across communities, schools, and online platforms. Initiated by the PACER Center and supported by numerous nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and corporations, the month features coordinated events, advocacy, and resource dissemination to reduce harassment and promote safety. The campaign intersects with legislative, judicial, and public health efforts in the United States and internationally, engaging partners such as U.S. Department of Education, United Nations, and a range of school districts.

History

The observance traces to a 2006 initiative by the PACER Center following growing public concern after high-profile cases involving student violence and suicide that drew attention from media outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and Time (magazine). Early partners included organizations such as StopBullying.gov, GLSEN, and Stomp Out Bullying, which coordinated with advocacy groups like American Academy of Pediatrics and civil rights organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union to craft messaging and outreach. Legislative responses that influenced the movement came from state legislatures in California, New York, and Texas, and federal attention through hearings in the United States Congress and engagement with the U.S. Department of Justice. International linkage developed via dialogues with entities such as the World Health Organization, the Council of Europe, and national ministries of education in Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Purpose and Goals

Organizers define goals to reduce incidence of harassment and improve safety in institutions like public schools, private schools, and faith-based schools, aligning with standards promoted by professional bodies such as the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association. The month emphasizes evidence-informed strategies endorsed by researchers from universities including Harvard University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Pennsylvania and draws on findings reported in journals published by Oxford University Press and Springer Science+Business Media. Policy objectives reference model codes advanced by advocacy groups like The Trevor Project and frameworks used by state education agencies in jurisdictions such as Massachusetts and Florida. Goals also target online conduct, coordinating with technology firms like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft and civil society groups such as Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Observance and Activities

Typical activities include public service campaigns with partners like DoSomething.org, school assemblies featuring speakers from StopBullying.gov and STOMP Out Bullying, training workshops led by consultants affiliated with The National PTA and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and social media initiatives amplified by celebrities represented by agencies linked to Entertainment Industry Foundation and public figures spotlighted in outlets like People (magazine). Merchandise campaigns have involved retailers such as Target Corporation and Walmart, while fundraising events sometimes partner with foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Foundation for grants supporting program evaluation by think tanks including the RAND Corporation. Annual observation features collaborations with athletics programs in colleges governed by National Collegiate Athletic Association and arts events at venues like the Kennedy Center.

Impact and Effectiveness

Evaluations by academic centers at institutions such as Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Michigan have reported mixed results: some school-based programs aligned with National Bullying Prevention Month correspond with reduced reports of peer victimization in studies published by SAGE Publications and outcomes tracked by National Center for Education Statistics, while other analyses indicate limited long-term behavioral change. Public health assessments drawing on methodologies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and outcomes measured in collaboration with local health departments in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles examine correlations between awareness campaigns and help-seeking behavior. Corporate and nonprofit partner evaluations by organizations such as United Way and Community Foundations show increases in resource utilization, though randomized controlled trials by research groups at Stanford University and Yale University note variability based on fidelity of program delivery.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics from legal scholars at Georgetown University Law Center and civil liberties advocates at the Cato Institute have raised concerns about policy overreach, free speech implications, and disciplinary practices tied to anti-bullying measures. Mental health professionals from institutions like McLean Hospital and advocacy organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness have debated whether short-term awareness months adequately address systemic issues like school climate and social inequality documented by sociologists at University of Chicago and Princeton University. Media critiques in outlets including The Atlantic and The Washington Post have examined potential commercialization through corporate partnerships with brands like Nike, Inc. and Amazon (company), and debates persist about measurement standards used by evaluators such as OECD and national research councils.

Related Campaigns and Partnerships

The initiative coordinates with related efforts including Anti-Bullying Week in the United Kingdom, global campaigns led by the UNICEF and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and national programs like Safe Schools Coalition and the It Gets Better Project. Corporate, philanthropic, and nonprofit partnerships have involved entities such as Apple Inc., Disney, Kaiser Permanente, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, while academic collaborations include centers at Michigan State University and Rutgers University. Athletic and entertainment partnerships have connected the month to campaigns by organizations like Major League Baseball and public figures affiliated with Broadway productions.

Category:Awareness months in the United States