Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

HALT! FAQS

What is the purpose of the HALT! Program?

The HALT! Bullying Prevention Program has six goals:

Reduce and prevent bullying related problems among school children
Bring effective bullying prevention strategies to schools and communities
Educate students, parents and faculty about the dynamics of bullying
Encourage the school environment toward a more pro-social, civil model
Enhance the effectiveness of teacher and parent intervention when bullying behavior arises
Provide additional resources to participating schools to ensure sustainability of bullying prevention efforts

Is HALT! similar to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program?

The largest element of the HALT! program is the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP.) The OBPP has been utilized internationally for over 30 years with significant results in decreasing bullying behavior among children in grades K-10. This program is not a curriculum, but rather a systems-wide approach that focuses on changing the norms that contribute to anti-social behaviors among school children, including bullying. The four main areas of the Olweus model are School-wide Components, Classroom Components, Individual Interventions and Community Involvement. For more information on the OBPP please visit www.clemson.edu/olweus

In addition to utilizing the Olweus model, the HALT! Bullying Prevention Program offers the following

Surveying students, teachers, staff and parents to identify issues unique to each individual school
Peer Relationship Workshops at the middle school level which focus on pro-social interaction among students
High school resources that address bullying in age-appropriate ways and concentrate on issues like harassment, cyber bullying and relational aggression
Bullying Hotline/referral service
A speakers bureau that can connect your school with expert information during assemblies or in-service time
Continued partnership with the PA CARES initiative to promote continuing education for teachers and other professionals around the topic of bullying

How long does the HALT! Program take?

Schools participating in the HALT! Bullying Prevention Program will undertake three years of program training, implementation and evaluation. After three years, it is our hope that a bullying prevention philosophy has become embedded in the everyday workings of the school environment, and that program tenets have become almost second nature to the school staff. Of the initial three years, the first six months are spent on identifying key personnel to take the lead in implementation, the review and adjustment of school district policies and procedures related to bullying and harassment, teacher training, ancillary staff training and parent education regarding the topic of bullying and the HALT! Program in general. After a school has begun implementation, HALT! trainers (who are also certified Olweus Bullying Prevention Program trainers) will provide technical assistance on a weekly basis to each school building and will also connect with other trainers across the state to ensure a balanced and consistent approach to program dissemination.

How do schools become eligible for HALT?

To be eligible for HALT! a school district must be located within Highmark’s 49 county service area and have never before implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in their buildings. HALT! Coordinators across the state meet and discuss program implementation with school officials before a mutual decision is made for the district to become a HALT! participating district. HALT! schools do not receive a “grant” but rather agree to participate in the overall project and will receive materials and resources as identified in the Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact Allison Messina, HALT! Program Director for more information.

HALT! FAQS