KEARNEY – An upcoming event at the University of Nebraska at Kearney aims to end bullying.
“Bullying: Prevention, Intervention and Strategies for Change” is the subject for the 10th annual Child Welfare Conference Thursday (April 5) in the Ponderosa Room at the Nebraskan Student Union on campus.
“Bullying continues to be a prevalent issue affecting individuals of all ages, but it’s especially concerning among children and adolescents,” said associate professor Jody VanLaningham, chair of the UNK Department of Social Work, which hosts the conference. “It is important for adults to understand the dynamics of bullying and its impact on the mental health of both victims and perpetrators so we can more effectively address this very serious problem.”
The conference, which runs from noon to 4:30 p.m., features four presenters covering the following topics:
- Bullying: What it is, what it isn’t and why it matters
- Technology: Social media and bullying in the digital age
- Beyond prevention: The critical role of adult intervention
The cost to attend for professionals and community members is $50, which includes three continuing education credits. UNK faculty, staff and students can attend for free by requesting a waiver from Suzanne Extrom at extromsr@unk.edu or 308-865-8739 prior to registering.
Registration is offered online at unk.edu/ChildWelfareConf
“The conference will provide current, research-based information on prevention and intervention strategies, as well as a particular focus on cyberbullying,” said VanLaningham. “Conference participants should come away with a more thorough and accurate understanding of the phenomenon of bullying and what can be done about it, which is crucial since we all need to be a part of the solution.”
Presenters are Meredith Martin, an assistant professor of educational psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of the developmental arm of the Nebraska Bullying Prevention and Intervention Academy; Raul Palacios, a third-year doctoral student in the school psychology program at UNL; Cody Solesbee, a second-year doctoral student in the school psychology program at UNL and trained Target Bullying Intervention Program specialist; and Alia Noetzel, a second-year doctoral student in the school psychology program at UNL and trained specialist and co-director for the Target Bullying Intervention Program.
