IPS #StrongerTogether Campaign

What is Bullying?

• Bullying is defined as overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically), physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors that are committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the targeted student and create for the targeted student an objectively hostile environment.

What should students do if they experience or witness bullying?

• Tell an adult at school or at home. IPS has procedures that must be enacted upon a report of suspected bullying.

How is our school community working to prevent bullying:

• Created an anti-bullying policy (IPS Board Policy No. 5517.01)
• Implemented staff training that includes bullying prevention policy, plans, and procedures
• Offered regular educational programs for students (i.e. Code of Conduct Roadshow)
• Conducted prompt investigation of reported incidents
• Developed disciplinary consequences for violation of the anti-bullying policy

How Can Parents Spot the Signs of Potential Bullying in Their Children

• Victims often report headaches, stomachaches, and other physical symptoms as a direct result of bullying, which can lead to increased absenteeism.

Resources:

• The Indiana Department of Education provides information on how to report bullying and cyberbullying incidents that occur outside of school grounds to law enforcement.
• Common Sense Media is a leading advocate for internet safety and 21st-century education for students.
• StopBullying.gov provides valuable resources for parents, offering background information on bullying and insights related to the district’s anti-bullying policy.
• The National Bullying Prevention Center offers additional guidance on how to support your child in making informed anti-bullying decisions.

Fear Factor: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gun violence has become the second leading cause of death for children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 in the U.S. In 2021, nearly 4,400 children and teens died from firearm-related injuries, with a significant portion being homicides. Data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute indicates that firearms are the leading cause of death among Indiana youth, with a substantial percentage of youth homicides involving guns.

IPS or Community Resources/Solutions:

National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform’s Violence Interruption Program

• Gun violence is preventable!
• The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department recommends the following actions of every parent or caregiver of a student:
  • If you have firearms in your home, make sure they are stored properly and locked away. Having a gun in the home significantly increases the risk of homicide, suicide, and unintentional shootings, which is why safely storing firearms is so important.
  • The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a direct connection to specialists who are trained in suicide and crisis prevention. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call or text 988 from anywhere in Indiana 24/7.
• Marion County Public Health Department’s Violence Prevention Program
• Indy Public Safety Foundation’s Indy Peace

Fear Factor: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 in 6 adolescents aged 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in 2020. The CDC reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 24 in the U.S. In 2021, over 6,500 youth in this age group died by suicide. Indiana has seen rising youth suicide rates, with the Indiana Department of Health reporting that suicide is the leading cause of death among Hoosiers aged 10 to 24. A significant number of Indiana youth who need mental health care do not receive it. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) indicates that nearly 50% of adolescents with a mental health condition do not receive appropriate treatment.

IPS or Community Resources/Solutions:

• School Social Worker and/or Counselor in every IPS building
• Direct access to wellness support, through a Social Worker or Counselor, via the districtwide mental health referral
• One in seven hospital and community mental health partners at each school is actively accepting school-based referrals for therapeutic services, including substance counseling when needed
• The IPS High School Youth Summit – brings together students from all IPS high schools to share their experiences and learn about the dangers of substance abuse, weapon use, and suicide and violence prevention. Students will also have the opportunity to recommend and co-create solutions to address barriers to learning and wellness, empowering them to take an active role in shaping a safer and healthier school environment.

Fear Factor: Research shows that students who are chronically absent (missing 18 school days or more) are much more likely to drop out of high school. Approximately 25% of chronically absent students will not graduate. Poor attendance can contribute to feelings of isolation and disengagement from the school community, which may worsen mental health issues and hinder social development.

Together, We Empower Our Students to Overcome Barriers and Create a Thriving School Community. We are #StrongerTogether

Fear Factor: The 2022 Indiana Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that around 25% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past month. The same survey indicated that about 30% of high school students had consumed alcohol in the past month. Indiana has been significantly affected by the opioid crisis, with rising rates of overdose deaths among young people. Fentanyl laced counterfeit pills is a main contributor to increases in youth/young adult aged 15-24 opioid overdose deaths.

IPS or Community Resources/Solutions:

• School Social Worker and/or Counselor in every IPS building
• Direct access to wellness support, through a Social Worker or Counselor, via the districtwide mental health referral
• One in seven hospital and community mental health partners at each school is actively accepting school-based referrals for therapeutic services, including substance counseling when needed
• The IPS High School Youth Summit – brings together students from all IPS high schools to share their experiences and learn about the dangers of substance abuse, weapon use, and suicide and violence prevention. Students will also have the opportunity to recommend and co-create solutions to address barriers to learning and wellness, empowering them to take an active role in shaping a safer and healthier school environment.
• Access to Narcan and Fentanyl testing strips in every IPS building

Fear Factor: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on a single night in January 2020, over 3,000 unaccompanied children under 18 were counted as homeless. The National Center for Children in Poverty estimates that about 1 in 30 children in the U.S. experiences homelessness in a given year. The Indiana Youth Institute reported that over 12,000 youth experienced homelessness in 2020, with many living in shelters or temporary accommodations. Homelessness significantly disrupts educational stability. Many unstably housed students struggle with attendance and performance, further exacerbating the challenges they face.

IPS or Community Resources/Solutions:

• Parents and caregivers of IPS students who are experiencing unstable housing should complete this IPS McKinney Vento Residential Form (English and Spanish) and submit it to their student’s building Social Worker or Counselor
• McKinney Vento protections exist for any family who meets this definition of homelessness from the Indiana Department of Education: Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals. The definition includes migratory students who live in the aforementioned situations.
• School Social Worker and/or Counselor in every IPS building
• McKinney Vento District Specialist and USS Wellness Specialists are assigned to each zone to support school-based social workers and counselors in identifying and accessing housing and other essential resources for students and families facing unstable housing situations