A Look at the Warning Signs of Bullying

Rock In Prevention is a nonprofit organization that was named one of the 20 best prevention programs by General McCaffrey, the former United States Drug Czar. Rock In Prevention primarily operates in schools and helps students develop skills to resist alcohol, drugs, and bullying.

Bullying, actions that consists of unwelcome or hostile behaviors, often result from an imbalance of power. For example, a stronger or more popular child might bully a smaller or less popular peer. Bullying is also repetitive, and takes the form of verbal or physical abuse. However bullies also engage in social bullying that can involve spreading hurtful rumors or embarrassing others intentionally. 

Bullying can lead to an array of harmful effects that range from depression and anxiety to a decrease in performance. To minimize these effects, adults should be aware of the warning signs of bullying. These might include:

- Injuries that can’t be explained and destruction of property.

- A tendency to avoid social activities and a loss of friends.

- An increased frequency of pretending to be ill or not wanting to go to school, as well as poor grades.

- Volatile sleep patterns and regular nightmares.

- A decrease in self-esteem and an increase in destructive behaviors.

The Importance of Spanish Programming

Since 1990, Rock in Prevention has used music to combat the effects of substance abuse among children. A non-profit organization, Rock in Prevention currently offers several empirically based programs, which includes Rock World Empathy, Rock Plus, and Rock Live.

Outside of these core programs, Rock in Prevention also offers a Spanish version of Rock Live known as Rock En Vivo. According to the National Association of Social Work, cultural competence is a core component of social work, especially considering there are currently approximately 55 million Hispanic individuals in the country. Hispanic individuals include those from Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South America. Together, they make up 17% of the entire United States population.

Moreover, the Hispanic population is growing at faster rates than other demographics in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that 28% of the country’s population will be comprised of Hispanics by the year 2060. Approximately 4.6 million children are also considered to be English language learners (ELLs). Of these ELLs, 3.7 million count Spanish as their first language.

A Look at the Negative Effects of Bullying

Since its founding in 1990 by National Certified Addiction Counselor Pat McManus, Rock in Prevention has implemented music- and art-based programs to foster caring communities among schoolchildren. To date, Rock in Prevention has helped more than 1.5 million students learn skills to prevent alcohol abuse, drug use, and bullying.

Bullying negatively affects both the bully and the child being bullied. Studies indicate that bullies have an increased risk of substance abuse as an adult, as well as a higher chance of dropping out of school. Bullies are also more likely to engage in criminal acts and be abusive to others as an adult. On the other hand, those bullied have increased health risks and are more prone to depression and anxiety. These children also tend to experience less academic success.

In addition to the main actors in a bullying scenario, witnesses to bullying can be negatively impacted. Children who witness bullying have not only a higher chance of missing school but an increased risk for alcohol abuse, drug use, and mental health problems.

The William White Student Scholarship for NAADAC Student Members

A civic organization based in Des Moines, Iowa, Rock In Prevention uses fun, interactive workshops to teach adolescents strategies for drug, tobacco, and alcohol prevention. Rock In Prevention was founded by Pat McManus, a National Certified Addiction Counselor who belongs to NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. The organization offers the William White Student Scholarship for NAADAC student members.

The William White Student Scholarship promotes student engagement in addiction research and highlights the importance of student research projects involving NAADAC programs, from accredited programs to higher education initiatives. NAADAC presents the scholarship to one undergraduate student and one graduate student on an annual basis. Selection is based on the student's research paper submission addressing the year's assigned topic. The awarded students receive a financial award of $1,000 for undergraduates and $2,000 for graduates. 

In order to apply for the scholarship, individuals must possess a student membership with NAADAC and have at least one full year of coursework to complete before graduation. They must also maintain a grade-point average of 2.7 or higher and include three letters of recommendation with their application. Eligible student papers follow guidelines for the applicant's grade level.

Reviewing Rock PLUS – What Students, Parents, and Teachers Are Saying

Founded in 1990, Rock In Prevention provides programs to help students live positive, healthy lives. The organization is presently involved in developing a mentoring program to train teachers, parents, and students to prevent bullying and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. One of Rock In Prevention’s programs has been Rock PLUS, which involves teachers and parents using music to teach students crucial life skills such as problem solving, anti-bullying, media literacy, and anger management. The program’s reception has been positive among all three groups. 

Students have hailed the program as a fun and easy way to learn how to live drug-free, understand one another’s feelings, appreciate family, and treat others with respect. Students also enjoy the activities in the program such as drawing and singing along to songs. 

Parents have commended the program for providing a way to share their own similar experiences with their children. Through interactive school-home links, parents share their experiences with things such as peer pressure, allowing them to relate to their children and instill positive lessons on self-esteem, responsibility, media literacy, goal setting, and living drug-free. 

Teachers have lauded the program for its unique use of songs to facilitate learning at the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic levels. They have also praised the program for dealing with issues students face directly and designing tailored lessons to improve students’ decision-making and their perception of how their actions affect others.