Operation Breakthrough's violence prevention efforts in 2020 will include Behavior Intervention Services for about 200 preschool children (4-5 year olds) and the Committee for Children’s (research-based) Steps to Respect bullying prevention program for approximately 280 school-age children (5-14 years). 
 
The history of trauma among OB families tells us that children are at very high-risk for emotional and behavioral disturbance, which, if left unchecked, can escalate into a pattern of aggression and anti-social behavior and failure in school.  Our Behavior Intervention program is designed to address these risks at the earliest signs of emotional disturbance.  The program for 2020 includes one Behavior Intervention Specialist working with 200 children in 12 preschool classrooms to address persistent behavioral problems that disrupt classroom activities and seriously impede instruction and learning.  The Behavior Intervention Specialist also trains and coaches classroom staff on appropriate responses to behavioral disturbances; establishes behavior standards and norms for each stage of development; conducts small group skill-building sessions for children with ongoing behavior problems; and makes referrals for children needing specialized services. The role of the Behavior Intervention Specialist helps to ensure kindergarten readiness for all preschoolers.

The program started in collaboration with Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) to design, implement and assess classroom intervention strategies for children who suffer from toxic stress.  The project is aligned with work initiated by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Head Start National Center on Health to develop an integrated care model among medical, mental health, social services and early education service providers to improve long-term outcomes for children suffering from toxic stress and/or at risk for failure in school.  The program includes an 8-10-week Behavior Intervention course for parents/caregivers, held in the Spring and in the Fall, to help parents learn how they can better manage their own emotions, model more positive emotional regulation for their children, and manage their children's difficult behaviors at home in a consistent and constructive manner. 

For school-age children, the Steps to Respect bullying prevention program builds on the lessons and skills taught in the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum used in previous years by showing students how to use the skills they’ve learned to refuse and report bullying.   The program focuses on peer group behaviors as well as individual attitudes, norms and skills.  Bullying Prevention lessons encourage specific, helpful bystander behaviors and positive student norms by teaching students to recognize, report and refuse bullying.  By learning to recognize bullying, students increase their awareness of the problem, learn to identify when they or others are being bullied, and increase their empathy for bullied students.  Giving students a clear message to report bullying sets a positive norm, lets students who might bully know there will be consequences, and supports adults in their efforts to reduce bullying.  Lessons on refusing bullying reinforce the message that bullying does not have to be tolerated and encourage students to report and use assertiveness skills to stand up to bullying.

COMBAT Funding: $47,379.00