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2000 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
Recognize Early Warning Signs of Troubled Youth
Prevent Violence: Tips for Students
Handout 4
Printer Friendly Version (PDF)
- Listen to your friends if they share troubling feelings or
thoughts. Encourage them to get help from a trusted adult, such
as a school psychologist, counselor, social worker, leader from
the faith community or other professional. If you are very
concerned, seek help for them. Share your concerns with your
parents.
- Create, join or support student organizations that combat
violence, such as “Students Against Destructive Decisions” and
“Young Heroes Program.”
- Work with local businesses and community groups to organize
youth-oriented activities that help young people think of ways
to prevent school and community violence. Share your ideas for
how these community groups and businesses can support your
efforts.
- Organize an assembly and invite your school psychologist,
school social worker, and counselor – in addition to student
panelists – to share ideas about how to deal with violence,
intimidation and bullying.
- Get involved in planning, implementing and evaluating your
school’s violence prevention and response plan.
- Participate in violence prevention programs such as peer
mediation and conflict resolution. Employ your new skills in
other settings, such as the home, neighborhood and community.
- Work with your teachers and administrators to create a safe
process for reporting threats, intimidation, weapon possession,
drug selling, gang activity, graffiti and vandalism. Use the
process.
- Ask for permission to invite a law enforcement officer to
your school to conduct a safety audit and share safety tips,
such as traveling in groups and avoiding areas known to be
unsafe. Share your ideas with the officer.
- Help to develop and participate in activities that promote
student understanding of differences and that respect the rights
of all.
- Volunteer to be a mentor for younger students and/or provide
tutoring to your peers.
- Know your school’s code of conduct and model responsible
behavior. Avoid being part of a crowd when fights break out.
Refrain from teasing, bullying and intimidating peers.
- Be a role model – take personal responsibility by reacting
to anger without physically or verbally harming others.
- Seek help from your parents or a trusted adult, such as a
school psychologist, social worker, counselor, teacher if you
are experiencing intense feelings of anger, fear, anxiety or
depression.
Adapted from: Dwyer, K., Osher, D., and Warger, C. (1998).
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools. Washington,
D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
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