Nov 27, 2012

UNI Takes Steps to Better Educate Teachers about Bullying

The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) is creating a new Violence Prevention Certification for undergraduate students to learn strategies for reducing acts of violence and bullying.

In 2010, about 2.7 million students were bullied, and more than 160,000 children  missed school for fear of being bullied.

The certification program will teach students how to identify types of bullying and gender violence, the signs and symptoms of unhealthy dating and intimate relationships, and best practices in prevention.

"We want to empower future teachers, coaches, school administrators, social workers and family service providers to take the message of primary prevention to their various personal and professional destinations once they graduate from UNI," said Alan Heisterkamp, director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Leadership Institute at UNI's CVP.

Launched in January 2011, the CVP specializes in bystander intervention protocol; teaching educators and others how to interrupt situations involving hurtful and harmful behavior to help prevent assaults before they happen.

Upcoming Events

Webinar:

Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, 1-2 p.m.
Coaching Boys into Men is co-sponsored by UNI’s Center for Violence prevention and the Iowa Men's Action Network. Experts will discuss the role of coaches and mentors in preventing bullying and gender violence.