Overview of Bystander Intervention Program

Intervention is the act of feeling empowered and equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively assist in the prevention of inappropriate behavior or assault. Intervention and bystander education programs teach potential witnesses safe and positive ways to prevent or intervene when there is a risk for violence. This approach gives students specific roles that they can use in preventing assault, including naming and stopping situations that could lead to violence before it happens, stepping in during an incident, and speaking out against ideas and behaviors that support violence. It also gives students the skills to be an effective and supportive ally to victims in the aftermath of violence. 

The Seven Goals of these education programs are:

1. Create and nurture a climate of care for all students and staff

2. Teach students to recognize instances of bullying and how to distinguish between tattling and reporting

3. Teach students to develop empathy for victims and how to deal with guilt for not intervening (no blame towards the victim)

4. Teach students how to report bullying to adults and develop effective means of intervention

5. Set up a peer warning system

6. Empower bystanders to intervene

7. Teach conflict resolution skills