Safety, Security, & Emergency Preparedness Resources

Bullying & Cyber Bullying

• APS Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

• APS Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan - Accomplishments 2010-2011

Bullying has been a problem for generations, and it has expanded in the age of the Internet. Cyber bullying can be just as traumatic to the victim. The following resources will help students and parents/guardians learn about bullying and cyber bullying and ways to stop it.

Massachusetts Law About Bullying and Cyber bullying, This page provides links to Massachusetts Laws pertaining to bullying in schools, violation of constitutional rights, identity fraud, and hazing. It also provides links to other resources on bullying and cyber bullying.
Direct From the Field: A Guide to Bullying Prevention, Mass. Dept. of Public Health. This 123-page publication has been provided to every school district in Massachusetts. The guide is intended to help schools develop bullying-prevention programs.
Bullying Prevention Resources, Violence Prevention and Intervention Services within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Bullying In Schools Fighting the Bully Battle, National School Safety Center. These one page fact sheets provide information to educate students, parents, and teachers about the problem and consequences of school bullying.
Eyes on Bullying, The Eyes on Bullying Toolkit provides specific insights, strategies, activities, and resources to address bullying. It is designed especially for caregivers and parents of preschool and school-age children and youth to use in child care programs, afterschool and youth programs, and camps.
BullyBust, Center for Social and Emotional Education
STOP cyber bullying
Parents Guide to Cyber Bullying, STOPcyberbullying.org (Requires Flash Player from Adobe)
Bullies and Victims: Information for Parents, National Association of School Psychologists
Operation Respect, Operation Respect is a non-profit organization working to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.
Teaching Tolerance, founded in 1991 by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children.
Addressing bullying and bystander behavior from the perspective of Facing History and Ourselves. FHAO is a federally recognized "effective program" on violence prevention and character education.
www.stopbullyingnow.com
Stop Bullying Now! Provides information (in English and Spanish) for children, parents, and school staff. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center
About Bullying Features interactive games and quizzes for children and teens.
Adults and Children Together Against Violence Educational materials for teaching problem-solving skills to children up to age 8.
www.ncpc.org provides information about stopping cyberbullying before it starts. Stop Cyberbullying Before It Starts (PDF) provides useful information for parents.
Cyberbullying.us provides cyberbullying research, stories, cases, downloads, fact sheets,tips and strategies, news headlines, a blog, and a number of other helpful resources on their comprehensive public service website.
www.stopcyberbullying.org has a fun quiz to rate your online behavior, information about why some people cyberbully, and how to stop yourself from cyberbullying.
www.wiredsafety.com provides information about what to do if you are cyberbullied.
www.commonsensemedia.org uses small video clips to teach lessons on cyber safety, online citizenship. Intended for parents, teachers and students
The Anti-Defamation League offers tips for parents and resources for teacher.

School Safety & Violence Prevention

Arlington Police Services, School Resource Officer: email, Telephone: Call the Main Office at Arlington High School during school hours and Arlington Police Services after school hours
Town of Arlington Board of Health
Arlington High School Attendance Officer/Court Liaison
Resources for Teenagers
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers, National Association of School Psychologists
Aggression in Adolescents: Strategies for Parents and Educators, National Association of School Psychologists
Anger Management for Teens, National Association of School Psychologists
Exploring the Nature and Prevention of Bullying An online course about implementing bullying prevention programs in school.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Cited by the AAP as one of the most effective intervention models, this program targets bullies, victims, and bystanders.
Fostering Resiliency in Kids: The Search Institute
Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure A clinical guide and 21 handouts aimed at building resilience
Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center “Bullied: A DVD of a case study that made history, comes with viewer’s guide.” a, free to schools.
Association of Schools for Curriculum and Development
Educators for Social Responsibility
Facing History and Ourselves
Sport in Society Antibullying and anti-violence curricula available, training for students, teachers and youth leaders
Yubbie Foundation Motivational speaker about overcoming effects of bullying, describes his healing process throughout adulthood including recovery from substance abuse.
Direct from the Field: A Guide to Bullying Prevention (pdf) This new online free resource compiles a set of brief aids for school practitioners and those involved in pre-and in-service professional development programs.

Internet Safety

ikeepsafe.org - iKeepSafe educational resources teach children of all ages in a fun, age-appropriate way, the basic rules of Internet safety, ethics, and the healthy use of connected technologies.
Wired Safety - tips for parents and kids how to navigate the internet safely.
Cleansurf.com - Offers website and email filtering that is updated 24 hours a day.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Homepage - Here you'll find lots of information about crime and crime prevention including and Internet Safety for Kids.
Federal Trade Commission: How to Protect Kids' Privacy Online: A Guide for Teachers
Microsoft Online Safety - Minimize the risk of cyberbullying, use social networking sites more safely, and use parental controls in Microsoft products to help keep your family safer online.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - Resources for parents & guardians, law enforcement, attorneys, and the media.
Net Nanny - This software allows parents to control certain aspects of internet use for their children.
Net Smartz Workshop - Internet Safety for Parents, Educators, Law Enforcement, Kids, and Teens.
Stay Safe Online - Provides free and non-technical cyber security and safety resources to the public, so consumers, small businesses and educators have the know how to avoid cyber crime.

Resources to Support GLBT Students

Author, Dan Savage, has collected stories of adults who were bullied as gay teens but who have gone on to have happy lives. www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network offers support for schools
www.glaad.org
www.thetrevorproject.org
www.operationrespect.org/curricula

Resources to Support Learning Disabled Students

LDonline.org, education service of public television station WETA a PBS affiliate in Washington D.C. Online newsletter that helps parents and teachers address needs of learning disabled students
Pacer’s National Center for Bullying Prevention, child advocacy group which focuses on students with disabilities and offers anti-bullying materials.

Mental Health & Counseling Services

If your child or family has experienced a traumatic event, the following resources may be very helpful. Many of these resources also provide guidance for supporting the mental health of your children. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact your child's school to speak with a guidance counselor or administrator.

Arlington Public Schools Physical and Mental Health Resource Booklet, This resource booklet is designed to provide information and referral services for students, parents and staff to use for physical and mental health referrals. It includes "who to contact" within Arlington Public Schools, and it serves as an informational packet to help with intervention services as needed.
Arlington Public Schools Directory of School Social Workers
Riverside Community Service Center
Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services, 675 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453 781-893-2003 or 800 540- 5806
Center for Mental Health in Schools, UCLA. Responding to a Crisis
Supporting Children’s Mental Health: Tips for Parents and Educators from the National Association of School Psychologists
Preventing Youth Suicide - Tips for Parents and Educators, Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide, National Association of School Psychologists
National Institute for Mental Health
American Psychiatric Association
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Tips for Helping Students Recovering from Traumatic Events, This brochure, produced by the U.S. Department of Education, provides practical information for parents and students who are coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster, as well as teachers, coaches, school administrators and others who are helping those affected.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Resources for Parents and Caregivers. The resources offered on this site will help parents and caregivers learn not only about child traumatic stress but about a child's healthy development and ways to seek help.
Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response, an excerpt from "A Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools" by The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.
Center for Mental Health in Schools The toolbox complements the system rebuilding online toolkit previously developed for the Center's national initiatives to advance student supports.

As with all resources developed by the national the toolbox reflects a broad view of mental health in schools and of the role mental health plays in the well-being of students, their families, and their teachers. Also stressed is the value of embedding mental health into a comprehensive classroom and school-wide system for addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students as an essential facet of ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to succeed at school.

Currently, the resource is divided into the following nine sections, each of which is under continuous development.

I. Framing Mental Health in Schools
II. Concerns and Controversies
III. Challenges and Opportunities in the Classroom
IV. About Behavior Problems and Social and Emotional Learning
V. Mental Health Assistance for Students at School
VI. Focusing on the Well-being of School Staff
VII. On-line Clearinghouse Quick Finds and Fact & Information Resources
VIII. Online Continuing Education Modules & Guidebooks
IX. Quick Training Aids & Tutorials

Each section of the toolbox is under continuous development. All feedback and suggestions will be appreciated. Send comments to Ltaylor@ucla.edu

School Mental Health Project
Center for Mental Health in Schools
UCLA Dept. of Psychology
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
(310) 825-3634 / Toll Free: (866) 846-4843 / Fax: (310) 206-8716
Email: smhp@ucla.edu

Substance Use Resources

Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Youth & Young Adult Substance Abuse Services Directory

Emergency Preparedness

Every family should develop an emergency plan. The following websites and documents provide step by step instructions, instructional videos, and templates for parents and kids to develop a plan.

Town of Arlington Emergency Management Services: Emergency Preparedness Brochure, Emergency Preparedness Kit, (suggestions for food, water, first aid, tools, and evacuation kit)
Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services: Family Disaster Plan
Ready America is a national campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to do three key things: (1) get an emergency supply kit, (2) make a family emergency plan, and (3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses. Check out the special resources for older Americans, people with disabilities, and pet owners.
Ready Kids: Are you ready to help your family get prepared for the unexpected? Your family can use this Web site to create a plan that will help you be ready for many different kinds of unexpected situations! Check out these Resources for Parents and Teachers.
www.ed.gov/emergencyplan
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Association for Suicidology

Town of Arlington and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Resources

Arlington Police Services, School Resource Officer: email, Telephone: Call the Main Office at Arlington High School during school hours and Arlington Police Services after school hours
Arlington Public Schools Physical and Mental Health Resource Booklet, This resource booklet is designed to provide information and referral services for students, parents and staff to use for physical and mental health referrals. It includes "who to contact" within Arlington Public Schools, and it serves as an informational packet to help with intervention services as needed.
Arlington High School Attendance Officer/Court Liaison
Town of Arlington Board of Health

School Directories

Emergency Evacuation Shelters

Links on this Page