Bullying prevention for all, all the time, everywhere

A CALL FOR FULL-TIME, INCLUSIVE BULLYING PREVENTION

October 11, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PEABODY MA

Leaders of two groups advocating for preventing bullying in Massachusetts today urged expanding the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month to encompass all people throughout every community in the Commonwealth, to include the workplace, multi-family residences, the elderly, and the disabled, as well as children and youth in school.

Jerry Halberstadt, Coordinator of the Stop Bullying Coalition, said that "While their circumstances may differ, all victims of bullying must stand together for education and change, to create safe and healthy communities."

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is October, and PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center seeks to engage students, parents, and educators "to raise awareness and show support for those who have been bullied." Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention (FPBP) provide extensive resources at Stopbullying.gov. The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests this is "a great time to consider how you can help raise awareness about bullying and take action to stop it." These programs focus on the prevention of bullying in school and among youth.

Mary Margaret Moore, Director of the Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann, said "We have been providing services for twenty-seven years to those living with disabilities, and for over ten years as part of the Aging and Disabilities Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore to seniors who have and do not have disabilities. We hear many accounts of bullying in their subsidized and non-subsidized housing situations. The ILCNSCA is a member of The National Council on Independent Living, a supporter of National Bullying Month, and we join in all efforts to prevent bullying."

A grass-roots movement of citizens in Attleboro, Massachusetts, mobilized by the Council on Human Rights and supported by City Councilors Richard Conti and Walter Thibodeau, has convinced the City Council to create an Attleboro anti-bullying commission. They seek to create an Attleboro that respects and welcomes all people throughout the City. Attleboro Citizens Act Against Bullying

Jerry Halberstadt added, "Our current focus is on advancing legislation in Massachusetts, and our first goal is the passage of S2329, the effort to create a landmark legislative study commission to understand bullying and seek remedies that will protect elderly and disabled persons living in public or subsidized housing."

CONTACTS

Jerry Halberstadt
Coordinator, Stop Bullying Coalition
email: jerry@StopBullyingCoalition.org
www.StopBullyingCoalition.org
http://photoluminations.com/drupal/?q=taxonomy/term/61
Twitter: @PhotoLumination
Working to prevent bullying of the elderly and of people living with disability

Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director
Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann, Inc.
27 Congress St, Suite 107, Salem, MA 01970
978-741-0077
mmmoore@ilcnsca.org
www.ilcnsca.org
www.facebook.com/ilcnsca
Services and Advocacy for an Independent Life

pacer.org
PACER Center, Inc.
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington, MN 55437

Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.