A Promising Solution to Racism, Harassment, Gangs, and Bullying
John Vandenburgh, Coordinator Student Support, Murrieta Valley USD Support Ctr., CA

This in-depth workshop presents a cost-effective, research-based approach for K–12 school campuses that develop a network of understanding, unity, and support among students from a variety of backgrounds and personalities. Learn how to develop the cultural competency in your students and faculty and come away with an extensive safe schools diversity awareness program, resource packet and implementation plan for your school.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Changing the Odds: Practical School-Wide Strategies that Reduce Youth Violence, Aggressive Behavior, and Bullying on Campus
Mark Katz, Learning Development Services, CA

During this workshop we review common childhood risks and adversities that place children and youth at risk for chronic school failure, bullying, and aggressive or violent behavior. We then present programs and practices that are yielding hopeful outcomes for these risks. Finally, we review how to combine these programs and practices into a school setting to improve the social climate.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Preventing Violence and Raising Academic Achievement
Dr. Joseph Marshall, Jr., Cofounder and Executive Director of the Omega Boys Club/Street Soldiers, CA

This session will help administrators, counselors and teachers make lasting and effective connections with youth. Learn about the life-changing strategies that the Omega Boys Club has successfully used to assist youth.

Strand: NEW!, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Fit for Learning
Steve Berta, CSS Field Colleague, Health Ed & Safe Schools/Faculty, San Jose State Univ. and Director, Santa Clara COE: Health Ed/Safe Schools, CA

The Fit for Learning program was created to help children develop habits of fitness while they’re young. This award-winning program provides easy-to-use and effective lessons and resources that tie health and fitness into the other disciplines. Come learn how Fit for Learning is making an impact in our elementary schools and how you can bring it to your school.

Strand: NEW!, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–6

If These Halls Could Talk: A Program to Deal with Bullying in Our Schools
Lee Mun Wah, Founder and Director, Stir Fry Seminars & Consulting; John Boiano, Founder and Director, Pulse Integration/Diversity Conversations, CA

This workshop will discuss the effects of cultural and personal bias on bullying behavior and how to effectively implement a safe school environment and attitude. Through interactive exercises and scenarios drawn from teachers’ real classroom experiences, the workshop focuses on building positive social skills, role modeling, and exploration of stereotypes.

Strand: NEW!, Marketing Session, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Violence in Our Schools Today: What Can We Do?
Greg Solomon, Inst. Music Teacher, Vista Heights Middle School, Moreno Valley USD, CA

Aggressive and violent behaviors are increasing in America’s schools. Increasing numbers of youth confront their parents, teachers, and school personnel with persistently threatening and destructive behaviors. It is all too clear that violence corrodes the educational process and threatens the safety of students and teachers. Time To Teach contains techniques to demonstrate how those behaviors can be eliminated.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Proactive Solutions to Address Bullying and Reclaim your School
John Vandenburgh, Coordinator Student Support, Murrieta Valley USD Support Ctr., CA

This session looks at bullying through the lens of youth development and provides practical strategies to address aggressive behavior in youth from a strength-based perspective. This session will introduce you to proactive student-centered strategies that can help parents, teachers, and the whole school community reclaim their school and create a positive place for all students to thrive.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Cyberbullying and Internet Safety
Steve Wolf, Field Training Officer, Irvine Police Department, CA

Learn how to protect your students on the web in this interactive internet safety workshop. Participants will gain practical strategies to implement safety standards at school regarding MySpace, chat rooms, instant messaging, interactive chat, California Education Codes, and more. Steve Wolf will discuss online dangers and what teachers, parents, students, and school communities can do to protect children.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

What Can You Do About Cutting and Self-Injury?
Suzanne Etheridge, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Orange County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, CA

Self-injury is a serious problem among teens. This session will help counselors and administrators recognize cutting, self-abuse and self-injury; understand the issue better; and develop effective education, prevention and intervention strategies. Discuss how you can incorporate these strategies into your current student support systems, both on and off campus.

Strand: NEW!, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

Empowering Youth to Stand Up to Bullying and Mistreatment
Rick Phillips, M.S.Ed., Executive Director, Community Matters, CA

Harassment, bullying, and intolerance prevent effective teaching and learning. Students hold the key: they see, hear, and know things and can intervene where adults can’t. Learn field-tested best practices to equip student leaders with the nonviolent skills to prevent and stop acts of harassment, hazing, bullying, and intolerance.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: 7–12

Identifying and Preventing Over the Counter (OTC) Drug Abuse
Stacey Zapanta, Alcohol and Drug Education & Prevention Team, County of Orange, Health Care Agency, CA

Over the Counter (OTC) Drug Abuse is extremely prevalent today. Learn how this issue is impacting teens at your school and families in your community and what you can do about it. Appropriate intervention, treatment and prevention will be discussed, as well as how to integrate your awareness of this issue into your current Drug and Alcohol Prevention approach. This session will help you recognize OTC Drug Abuse and develop prevention strategies for your school.

Strand: Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12

The Internet: The Good, The Bad, The Truth
Jay Rohman, Encouraging 101 Organization, NE

Statistics show that one out of four children have been contacted by a predator via the Internet. But the Internet is also a wealth of valuable and important information that can and should be accessed by our students. This program will open your eyes and help you protect our valuable resources…our children.

Strand: NEW!, Safety and Violence Prevention
Grade Level: K–12