Danbury Hospital Program On Bullying

DANBURY –– A full-day educational program, “Operation Respect: Don’t Laugh at Me,” will be held on Monday, May 13, in the Danbury Hospital auditorium to take an in-depth look at the problem of bullying in children during the middle school years.

The seminar is being co-sponsored by the Danbury Public Schools, Danbury Hospital’s Center for Child and Adolescent Treatment Services (CCATS), and the Healthy Kids Community Initiative.

The program will be held from 8:30 am to 4 pm in the auditorium at the John C. Creasy Center for Health Education at the hospital. Lunch will be provided.

This program is specially designed for anyone who works with children to explore the problem of bullying and how this behavior affects children, both offenders and victims. Part of a national initiative, the “Don’t Laugh at Me” project supports the idea that creating and maintaining climates of respect are central to building healthy, caring communities.

Keynote speakers include Dr Ann Freiberg, co-founder and executive director of Operation Respect CT, Inc, and Nancy Letney Pugliese, educational consultant for the Connecticut Department of Education.

Persons who are interested in attending must register by May 8 by calling 797-7490. There will be a choice of two afternoon breakout sessions on topics that include the emotional consequences of bullying; whose responsibility is bully prevention; sexual harassment in schools; and a comprehensive approach to school bullying.