| IPRA Today - Welcome, Debbie Trueblood! | Editorial link | www.ilipra.org |
Independence Day has come and gone...
All of us have a great responsibility in caring for children in our communities through our program offerings. One of the hot topics in the news today is bullying. Every day we hear stories of kids bullying each other or even adults. One of our member agencies has taken a special step to address this troubling issue. At its June 26 board meeting, the Hoffman Estates Park District’s Board of Commissioners approved a comprehensive anti-bullying policy to address bullying, harassment and all forms of aggressive and violent behaviors. "We feel this is an important step to ensure the health and well-being of our community and our participants," said Dean Bostrom, executive director for the HEPD. "We won’t tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind that might inhibit an individual’s ability to learn and participate." Bullying or harassment is defined as any gesture or written, verbal, graphic or physical act (including via the Internet, cell phone or personal digital assistant) that is dehumanizing, intimidating, hostile, humiliating, threatening or otherwise likely to evoke fear of physical harm or emotional distress. This also includes forms of retaliation against individuals who report or cooperate in an investigation under this policy. All Hoffman Estates Park District employees and volunteers will be required to complete a training course each year and will be expected to refuse to tolerate bullying and harassment and to demonstrate behavior that is respectful and civil. To view the complete policy, please visit heparks.org or click here. Congratulations to the Hoffman Estates Park District for taking this proactive approach to the problem. If your agency has not already done so, we urge you to follow Hoffman Estates' lead. -Terry Porter, Interim Executive Director |
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