STOMP Out Bullying

Initially established as the signature program of Love Our Children USA™ in 2003, its founder recognized a critical need to address the issue of bullying and cyberbullying and created STOMP Out Bullying™ in 2005. Today STOMP Out Bullying™ is the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization for kids and teens in the U.S. STOMP Out Bullying™ focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying; as well as educating kids and teens in school and online, providing help for those in need and at risk of suicide, raising awareness, peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, and social media campaigns. An additional focus educates parents on how to keep their children safe and responsible online. Both the STOMP Out Bullying Program™ and its Annual BLUE SHIRT DAY® WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION initiative brings awareness and educates kids, teens, parents and schools about the issue. It offers hope for every student who experiences the harmful effects of all forms of bullying and teaches parents to keep open communication with their kids and teens and to look for signs. It also educates school administrators across the country, who have swept this issue under the rug for far too long. Funds raised for the campaign go towards helping students in need of help and at-risk of suicide, in-school education, public awareness and education, a dedicated web site, brochures and materials to assist bullying and cyberbullying prevention education and peer mentoring in schools. Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person repeatedly. The behavior is never appropriate and is intentional. This repeated and hurtful act includes: name calling, inflicting physical pain, exclusion, public humiliation, hurtful pranks and defacing one's property. Bullying involves an imbalance of power. Today's students are at-risk, and that risk grows more and more everyday as the popularity of the Internet increases. Today our youths are exposed to so much more than we were years ago. And years ago, when a kid or teen threatened to kill someone they didn't mean it. Today students have access to guns and the threat to kill someone is no longer idle.

• 1 out of 4 kids is bullied
• Depending on the age group, up to 43% of students say they have been digitally harassed
• 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school
• Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high
• Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them
• It can mess up a kid's future. Bullies are more likely to skip school, drop out of school, smoke, drink alcohol, get into fights and be arrested at some point in their life. 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24.
• 8% of students miss at least 1 day of class per month for fear of Bullies 
• Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.
• A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures. In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.

The issues of bullying and cyberbullying have increased to growing proportions. As a form of violence against children of all ages, these issues have caused a crisis. Some victims are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids and teens on its receiving end, but the parents, teachers and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get. STOMP Out Bullying™ works aggressively to prevent these issues and to help those affected by it. Adults must empower the victims and help change the behavior of the bullies. Schools must react swiftly and redirect negative behaviors into positive and productive solutions Bystanders who witness the assaults, harassment and threats must not remain silent. They must stand up for others. Parents must teach their kids and teens kindness, compassion and respect and schools must do the same. Our kids and teens need to know they are valued and protected. The goal of STOMP Out Bullying™ is to put an end to this crisis, to keep children of all ages safe and to create bullying prevention education and peer mentoring in schools. Please join us in our efforts to educate and advocate and most of all to STOMP Out Bullying™!