Department of Student Services & Interventions /
PREVENTION, INTERVENTION & VICTIM’S ASSISTANCE
GUIDELINES & RESOURCES FOR ADMINISTRATORS
Please utilize the principles and information in this guide when concerned for the welfare of a student whose victimization has come to your attention. Referral for assistance with victimization concerns is the right of all students, and a duty of all school personnel who become aware of such concerns. Referral should be timely, respectful, confidential, and where possible and appropriate, occur with parental awareness and involvement.
Likely referral scenarios from school include: Students experiencing bullying, sexual harassment, physical assault, threats, intimidation, or isolation. While victimization situations can be emotional stressful, confusing, and problematic, DPS has access to a number of resources capable of providing professional assistance.
The First level of intervention involves resources at your school, consisting of yourselves, your School Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, and most particularly any caring adult the student sees as a resource. The major task of this level of intervention is to deescalate ongoing emotional trauma, and then to ascertain what initial steps should be taken to address the student’s concerns. This will normally include informing the student’s parents about what has happened to/been reported by their child, and involving the parents in the referral process.
The Second level of intervention involves resources outside the school, including both DPS services as well as external services. These services fall into two categories: Victim Support Services, and Victimization Prevention Programs.
Victim Support Services
Ø DENVER VICTIM’S SERVICE CENTER: Hotline 303.894.8000
Admin. 303.860.0660
Ø VICTIM ASSISTANCE UNIT, Denver Police Dept: 720.913.6035
Ø DENVER CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: 303.825.3850
Victimization Prevention Programs
ü Life Skills Training: This comprehensive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use prevention program has demonstrated significant reductions in rates of use, as well as delays in age of first use, detectable up to eight years after training. The program teaches a variety of critical thinking, social, behavioral, and stress-management skills that provide upper elementary and middle school students with the tools they need to avoid violence and/or drugs. For further information contact Dr. Gene Jacquez, Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools Program Manager at 303.405.6621
ü Second Step Violence Prevention: This program has been implemented for over four years at various DPS elementary and middle schools. It teaches skills in empathy, problem solving, behavioral social skills, and anger management. Second Step is the only violence prevention program given the ‘exemplary’ rating by the federal department of education. For further information contact Dr. Steven Ray at 303.405.6622 or Dr. Jacquez at the above number.
ü The Danish Bullying Prevention Program: This research validated bullying prevention program is being pioneered across the country by various school-based preventionists, including the Denver Public Schools. It involves training school staff to intervene with the school in climate, individual, and group-oriented ways. For information please contact Dr.Gene Jacquez at the above number.
ü RESPECT: This four-session intervention uses video vignettes, and psychodrama techniques to impact adolescents’ normative misperceptions of social cues that often lead to harassment. It is rooted in the cognitive developmental theory of Piaget, and others. For additional information please contact Bob Anderson, Director of Prevention, at 303-764-3550 or Patricia Lopez, Psychological Services Program Manager, at 303.764.3612
ü Steps to Respect: This bullying prevention program was recently developed by the Committee for Children. The program has been implemented with success at several schools, and is rooted in the same principles as CFC’s Second Step program. Please contact Dr.Jacquez, or Dr. Ray for further information.