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The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Launches the Georgia Bullying Prevention Initiative With Hazelden and the National Association of Elementary School Principals

The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP) is excited to be launching, with Hazelden and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), a new effort called the Georgia Bullying Prevention Initiative. National surveys show that 17 percent of students report being bullied and 19 percent report bullying others "sometimes" or more often. That means more than one in three students in a typical Georgia classroom are involved in bullying on a regular basis. Many more students who witness bullying happening are also impacted.

Hazelden (www.hazelden.org), headquartered in Center City, Minnesota, is the leading publisher of evidence-based prevention programs and the exclusive publisher of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), the most researched and best-known program of its kind. With over 35 years of research and successful implementation all over the world, OBPP is a whole school program that has been proven to prevent or reduce bullying throughout the school setting. Many schools that have used the program have seen reductions in bullying behavior by 50 percent or more.

OBPP, geared to students in grades 1-8, is used at the school, classroom, and individual levels and includes methods for reaching out to parents and the community for involvement and support. School administrators, teachers, and other staff are primarily responsible for introducing and implementing the program. These efforts are designed to improve peer relations and make the school a safer and more positive place for students to learn and develop.

GAESP will be working with Hazelden to educate Georgia schools about the serious issue of bullying and other related violence issues, and will be serving as a key source in the state of Georgia for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program as well as Hazelden's other violence prevention programs.

"GAESP, the elementary and middle level principals association in Georgia, is the group that should lead the way in helping to prevent bullying violence in our schools. Principals play a vital role in creating a positive school culture," said Hal Beaver, GAESP executive director. "Hazelden and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program are the gold standard in evidence-based bully prevention programs."

"Hazelden is excited to be working with such a strong organization as GAESP to bring much needed bullying prevention programming to schools across the state," said Sue Thomas, business development director at Hazelden.

To learn more about the Georgia Bullying Prevention Initiative or the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, visit www.gael.org or call 770-967-2050.

About Hazelden
Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. Built on decades of knowledge and experience, Hazelden offers a comprehensive approach to addiction that addresses the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, including treatment and continuing care for youth and adults, research, higher education, public education and advocacy, and publishing. It has facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, and Florida. Learn more at www.hazelden.org or call 800-257-7810.

About the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP)
The mission of the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals is to equip leaders with research-based practices that advance student learning. Our organization will provide opportunities for networking, professional learning, and legislative advocacy.

About the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
The mission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. NAESP is committed to providing the research, tools, learning experiences, and networking that enable our members to understand and prepare students to be highly adaptive learners in a rapidly changing world.