The School Administrators of Montana Launch the Montana Bullying Prevention Initiative With Hazelden and The National Association of Elementary School Principals

CENTER CITY, Minn., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The School Administrators of Montana (SAM) is excited to be launching, with Hazelden, an internationally known non-profit foundation, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), a new effort called the Montana Bullying Prevention Initiative. Bullying is a serious issue that affects students' health, the school climate, academic achievement, and school liability.

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Hazelden, 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 www.olweus.org  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 an educational setting. Many schools that have used the program have seen reductions in bullying behavior by 50% or more.

OBPP, geared to students in grades 1-8, is used at the school, classroom, and individual levels and includes methods to reach 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.

SAM will be working with Hazelden to educate schools about the serious issue of bullying and other related violence issues, and will be serving as the central source in the state of Montana for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and Hazelden's other violence prevention programs. SAM will also be coordinating training for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in the state as well.

To kick off this partnership SAM has invited Dr. Marlene Snyder, a leading expert in the field of bullying, to speak on bullying at SAM's annual conference on Thursday, October, 21 from 2:15 to 3:45. All interested educators are invited to attend.

"SAM, the school principals association in Montana, is the group that should lead the way in Montana bullying prevention. Principals play a vital role in creating a positive school culture," said Darrell Rud, SAM's 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 like SAM to bring much needed bullying prevention programming to schools across the state," said Bobby Christensen, Montana regional sales manager for Hazelden.

To learn more about the Montana Bullying Prevention Initiative, visit www.sammt.org or call 406-442-2510

About The School Administrators of Montana (SAM)

School Administrators of Montana (SAM) was organized as an association of administrators in 1976.  The objectives of the organization are to provide an opportunity for a continuous study of the mutual professional problems facing school administrators; to make members aware of the public education issues; to provide a forum for the discussion of such issues; to formulate positions on such issues; to establish close and continuous communication and cooperation in matters of mutual concern to all levels of school administrators; and to cooperate with other organizations and the general public in the promotion of effective public education.

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 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

The mission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) 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.

SOURCE Hazelden Foundation