“The Olweus Program (pronounced Ol-VAY-us) is a comprehensive approach that includes schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community components. The program is focused on long-term change that creates a safe and positive school climate. It is designed and evaluated for use in elementary, middle, junior high and high schools (K-12). The program’s goals are to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school children and to improve peer relations at school. The program has been found to reduce bullying among students, improve the social climate of classrooms, and reduce related antisocial behaviors, such as vandalism and truancy. The Olweus Program has been implemented in more than a dozen countries around the world, and in thousands of schools in the United States.”
Clemson University – https://olweus.sites.clemson.edu/
Introducing The Olweus Program to WV
WV DHHR’s Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH) contracted with Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance Center, Division of Community Health, School of Medicine (MUSHTAC) to make Olweus Bullying Prevention program available to all WV schools with Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH) grants. MUSHTAC and BBH launched a series of information dissemination to ESMH grantees, schools, and stakeholders via email, newsletters, one-pagers, virtual meeting overviews, and webinar. Team members also included the Olweus Program in school strategic planning and meetings as a program option when it met the needs of the school.
On 4/27/2022, MUSHTAC hosted an Olweus Overview Webinar to introduce the program and measure interest. This webinar was presented by Dr. Urbanski at Clemson University, contracted by Marshall University School Health TA Center, School of Medicine, on behalf of WV DHHR’s Bureau of Behavioral Health.
Building Capacity with Trainer-Consultants
Becoming an Olweus trainer consultant is an involved process that typically takes from 12-24 months. Potential trainers submit applications to the U.S. developers at Clemson University. Successful applicants participate in a hybrid learning series consisting of multiple days of in-person training, online instructor facilitated sessions, online independent sessions, and 12 months of national coaching support. Upon completion of at least 2 trainings, submission of reports and 12 months of coaching support provided to at least 2 schools, provisionally certified trainers can become fully certified trainers.
West Virginia 2022 Blended Learning TCC Schedule:
- Online Independent Session – September 1, 2022 – October 24, 2022
- Online Instructor Facilitated Session – October 18, 2022
- Instructor-led Face-to-Face Session – October 25-26, 2022 – Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, West Virginia
- Online Independent Session – November 1, 2022-November 1, 2023
- Online Instructor Facilitated Segments
- January 18, 2023
- April 19, 2023
- July 19, 2023
- October 18, 2023
We started with thirteen (13) Provisionally Certified Trainer-Consultants, but as of June 26, two have dropped out of the certification process, leaving us with eleven (11).
Schools Committed to Implementation of OBPP
As of June 26, 2023, there are 19 schools who have committed to training and implementation and at least 3 more schools have met with representatives to determine fit. Marshall University School Health TA Center currently has 10 signed school agreements to implement the program and 9 additional schools with agreements pending board signature. Multiple schools have begun the training and implementation process in earnest.
Fayette County
Schools include: Valley PK-8, Oak Hill Middle, Fayetteville PK-8, Meadow Bridge Elementary/Middle, Meadow Bridge High
- Olweus Bullying Questionnaire (OBQ) Completed in all schools March 2023
- Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee (BPCC) Trainings Completed
- May 30 & 31, 2023
- Valley PK-8 – principal, 3 teachers, 2 counselors, 1 project aware therapist
- Meadow Bridge Elementary/High- 2 principals, 1 counselor, 1 social worker, 3 teachers
- June 5 & 6, 2023
- Fayetteville pk8 – assistant principal, 1 social worker, 2 counselors, 2 teachers
- Oak Hill Middle- principal, 2 counselors, 1 social worker, 1 project aware therapist, 1 bus driver, 4 teachers
- Each BPCC will complete a 6-hour training with school staff in August/September 2023
- Each school will host a school-wide kickoff in October 2023
Randolph County
Elkins Middle School
- OBQ completed May 2023
- BPCC training completed June 1 & 2, 2023. Members included – principal, assistant principal, 2 counselors, and 2 teachers,
- The BPCC will complete a 6-hour training with school staff September 2023
- The school will host a school-wide community kickoff in October 2023
Pleasants County
Schools include: Pleasants Middle, St. Mary’s High, Belmont Elementary, St. Mary’s Elementary
- OBQ scheduled for Fall 2023
- BPCC training scheduled
- August 1 & 2, 2023
- Pleasants Middle
- St. Mary’s High
- August 3 & 4, 2023
- Belmont Elementary
- St. Mary’s Elementary
- The BPCCs will complete a 6-hour training with school staff in Fall 2023
- The school will host a school-wide kickoff in Fall 2023
Tucker County
Davis-Thomas Elementary School
- OBQ completed April 2023
- BPCC training completed May 31 & June 1
- The BPCC will complete a 6-hour training with school staff in August 2023
- The school will host a school-wide kickoff in September 2023
Pocahontas County
Schools include: Greenbank Elementary, Greenbank Middle, Hillsboro Elementary, Marlinton Elementary, Marlinton Middle, Pocahontas High
- OBQ scheduled for September 2023
- BPCC training scheduled late Summer 2023
- The BPCCs will complete a 6-hour training with school staff Fall 2023
- The schools will host a school-wide kickoff in Fall 2023
Mercer County
Schools include: Bluefield Intermediate, Mercer School
- OBQ scheduled September 2023
- BPCC training scheduled August 2023
- The BPCCs will complete a 6-hour training with school staff in August 2023i
- The school will host a school-wide kickoff in Fall 2023
What Schools Get
Schools who fully implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program each receive a minimum of 12 months of Olweus program e-subscription materials, Olweus Bullying Questionnaire online submission and detailed report, 2-day in-person BPCC training which includes a comprehensive implementation plan, and 12 months of coaching support. Some schools may also receive books and hard-copy materials.
“The Olweus Bullying Questionnaire (OBQ) is an anonymous, research-based survey administered to students that assesses the nature, extent, and location of bullying problems in a school. Adults are not always accurate in estimating the prevalence of bullying at their school and are frequently surprised by the amount of bullying that students experience, the types of bullying that are most common, or the “hot spots” where bullying happens.” Clemson University – Why the OBPP Works