Bullying Prevention: Creating a Positive School Climate And Developing Social Competence

Bullying is the most prevalent form of violence in American schools. In their new book Bullying Prevention, authors Pamela Orpinas and Andy Horne bring together years of experience in research and applied behavioral sciences to show how educators, school psychologists, counselors, and other professionals can address the problem of bullying and aggression in schools.

Readers will find definitions, statistics, and theories that will help them identify and characterize bullying. They will learn about the authors' School Social Development and Bullying Prevention Model, a blueprint for schools that students, teachers, and parents enjoy being a part of. This model shows how school professionals can prevent and reduce bullying by creating a positive environment and by ensuring all children have the social skills to communicate well and solve problems without aggression. The book has guidance in selecting research-based bullying prevention programs, and steps for assessing a school's needs and for evaluating a program's effectiveness.

The book also offers practical strategies for helping the children who are targets of bullying, and discusses counseling and family interventions for children who continue to bully despite positive changes in the school and classroom environment. A rich resource section contains a wide range of bullying-related readings, manuals, and tools available on the Internet.