Attendees:
- CSN: Lauren Gilman, Shannon Reynolds, Maria Katradis
- California: Amanda Mangurten, Anjelica Montano
- Kentucky: Kellsie Sutherland
- Indiana: Sarah Iwinski-Wallace, Sophia Schadewald, A.J. Moon
- Massachusetts: Jane Ayer, Silvia Mendez
- Vermont: Kara Zink
Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to our Bullying Prevention Topic Call on Tuesday. You can access the slides here: https://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/system/files/coiin/resources/BP%20Topic%20Call%20May%202026.pdf
It was great to hear your positive feedback about the Learning Session last week, and to know that our efforts to make the hybrid sessions engaging were mostly successful. I’d like to send a special shout out of appreciation to Kana Zink of Vermont for the excellent storyboard presentation. As a reminder: All of the resources are posted on the CSLC Web Portal under Learning Session Day 1 - May 6, 2026 and Learning Session Day 2 - May 7, 2026. You will need to log in to access them.
During the call on Tuesday, we talked about systems mapping, and I re-shared the tool that was introduced at the Learning Session. I know that some of you have started working on it and have found it to be a useful way to visually connect the pieces of your work. If it’s helpful, please continue working on it and we can discuss it at our next TA meeting and/or at our July topic call. There is a link to the tool on the portal, and I’m also attaching it to this email in case that’s easier.
Team updates:
California
- The team is finalizing a report about bullying prevention that will serve as a resource for stakeholders across multiple state departments and communities across California. Originally designed as a brief or white paper, this comprehensive document includes data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, information about upstream drivers of bullying, risk and protective factors, and examples of effective prevention/early intervention strategies.
- They are also working on a curriculum on cyberbullying, which connects to a larger statewide initiative about digital wellbeing.
Indiana
- April was a big month for the team: they held an orientation for the 6 schools participating in their Indiana Youth Upstander Program (IYUP), and provided them with a menu of evidence-based programs and strategies to implement during the next school year. They will be conducting monthly check-ins to get process going and provide technical assistance.
- They are also finalizing surveys for students and staff to evaluate the impact of this program.
Massachusetts
- At the systems level, their bullying prevention initiatives are happening in partnership with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Materials being shared have a trauma-informed perspective, and are consistent so that young people will hear the same thing in school and out of school. Aligning with social and emotional competencies, they contain the same language teachers are required to use.
- At the community level, they work with multiple vendors through their Youth Violence Prevention initiatives. For example, Silvia Mendez works with youth at the Gandara Center through a theatre group that helps them to work through trauma and bullying experiences.
Kentucky
- Kellsie noted that the systems mapping activity helped them to brainstorm how teams can branch out in KY and reach out to other organizations to help implement bullying prevention and suicide/self-harm prevention efforts
- KY's next steps to work through their mental health package workplans, and to determine what the local health departments are planning to do for bullying prevention in the next fiscal year (beginning July 1).
Vermont
- Last month, the VT team conducted a training for school nurses throughout the state on recognizing and responding to bullying.
- They are now working on developing a similar training for staff at youth programs.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Our next BP Topic Call is scheduled for July 14th 4pm to 5pm ET
- Sustainability in the CSLC Webinar is on Monday, May 18th at 3pm ET