On August 6–7, 2012, leaders of nonprofit and corporate organizations joined federal officials, parents, and students in Washington, DC, to discuss challenges and solutions to the problem of bullying. Nearly one in three middle and high school students report being bullied.

Federal officials who spoke at the event included Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy; Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education; Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West; Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and OJJDP Acting Administrator Melodee Hanes.

"We know that creating a sense of safety for our children won't happen automatically," said West. "It happens only to the extent individuals, both old and young, make conscious choices—often through acts of personal courage and outreach—to create atmospheres of tolerance, and climates of trust."

Panels at the summit highlighted the connection between bullying and suicide, and ways to help students who bully others. In addition, the summit featured a discussion between White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and Cynthia Germanotta, mother of musician Lady Gaga and President and Co-Founder of the Born This Way Foundation, about how to empower youth to prevent bullying. To read Jarrett's blog about the conversation with Germanotta, visit the White House Web site.

The summit was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students in conjunction with the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Defense, Agriculture, and the Interior; the Federal Trade Commission; the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and the National Council on Disability.

Resources:

To learn more about bullying prevention and to access helpful resources, including Webinars, visit stopbullying.gov. To access evidence-based practices to address the problem of bullying, go to OJJDP's Model Programs Guide.