Writer: Martha Filipic
filipic.3@osu.edu
(614) 292 - 9833

Source: Nancy Hudson
hudson.2@osu.edu
(330) 263 - 3799

WOOSTER, Ohio -- A student is beaten on an Ohio school bus, in full view of a video camera. Another Ohio student commits suicide after being bullied at his high school.

Such tragedies, both of which occurred this year, prompted the State Board of Education to adopt model anti-bullying policies in mid-October, to help local school districts define and decrease acts of bullying. But such policies can go only so far without parents, educators, counselors, social workers, faith leaders and youth leaders working together, say Ohio State University Extension specialists at the OSU Extension Center at Wooster.

Nancy Hudson, family resource management specialist, and Bill Harris, 4-H youth development specialist, both at the Wooster center, have organized a two-part program from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 around a national satellite broadcast from Iowa State University Extension entitled, "What's a Parent to Do? Helping Families Deal with Bullying and with Kids Who are Out of Control."

"This program is for anyone who works with kids or who cares about kids," Hudson said.

The broadcast also is being downlinked in two other locations in the state (see below), but the Center at Wooster decided to broaden the program by bringing in other speakers. On Nov. 30, psychologist and seminar leader Kathleen Pichola of Cleveland will discuss ways in which "It Takes a Village" to both create and cure bullying, including examples from her work as a guidance counselor in elementary and middle school. On Dec. 7, Jacqueline Kirby Wilkins of the research consulting firm IntelliSolve will present on "Helping Children Find New Ways to Relate to Themselves and Others." The local presenters begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by discussion and activities. The national satellite broadcast airs from 7 to 9 p.m.

The program is open to the first 50 to sign up, Hudson said. Continuing education units (CEUs) have been approved for Social Work (3.5 units for each part of the program) and Certified Family Life Educators (.4 for each part of the program), and professional development units (PDUs) are pending for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The fee is $35 for one session or $60 for both, and includes a boxed meal.

Registration deadline is Nov. 18. The program is being held in Room 130 in the Research Services Building for the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. For information or to register, contact the OSU Extension Center at Wooster at (330) 263-3799 or email Hudson at hudson.2@osu.edu.

Two other Extension offices in Ohio are downlinking the Iowa broadcast. These locations have no additional programming and will offer fewer CEUs and PDUs for professional development. They are:

The OSU Extension office in Hancock County, at the Hancock County Agricultural Service Center, 7868 County Road 140, Findlay. The broadcast is sponsored by the Hancock County Family Month Task Force. The fee is $5 for each session. Participation is limited to 50. For information, call Extension educator Barbara Brahm at (419) 422-3851 or e-mail at brahm.1@osu.edu.

The OSU Extension office in Tuscarawas County, 419 Sixteenth St. SW, New Philadelphia. Participants are asked to arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. broadcast. Fee is $10 for one session or $18 for both. Participation is limited to 30. For information or to register, contact Extension educator Eileene Welker at (330) 339-2337 or welker.2@osu.edu.

Details about Iowa's satellite program are at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/parent/.

Iowa State and Ohio State both are land-grant universities offering Extension programming. Throughout Ohio, OSU Extension offices provide educational information and programs to the people of Ohio to better their lives, communities and businesses. Extension educators provide educational programming and information gained through research in Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and elsewhere on everything from Agriculture and Natural Resources to Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H and Youth Development, and Community Development. For more information on OSU Extension, see http://extension.osu.edu.