Many schools are increasingly aware of the damaging effects of bullying on children. Bullying can leave permanent scars on the confidence and self-esteem of a child. Bullying also takes a toll on schools in the form of student absences, behavior problems, parent complaints, and classroom disruptions. Students and educators are likely to feel unsafe in an environment where bullying and violence are tolerated. In some cases, bullying even has deadly consequences. In order to reduce the potential for bullying in Fall River, the Family Service Association provided training and services to children designed to protect against bullying behavior in school-aged children. Click here for photos of other Family Service Healthy City activities. For more information about the Sticks and Stones program, contact Michael J. Currin at 508-678-7542.
 

(Top row, left) Fall River School Department Health Coordinator Susan Sterrett, Family Services Case Manager Mary Vasconcellos  and Big Friends Little Friends Program Coordinator Ramona Turcotte put together the Sticks and Stones training program. (Top row, center) Katherine and Amy hold one of the anti-bullying posters. (Top row, right) Ramona Turcotte and two of the mentors fill out certificates for students who participated in the program. (Middle row, left and right) Danny, Alexis and Becky go over some of the program materials and display their anti-bullying messages. (Bottom row, center) Danny, Alexis, Mary Vasconcellos and Becky display their certificates of completion.