Warning Signs For Parents Launched at Oklahoma Event

Warning Signs for Parents made its official debut in March to more than 6,000 people at the statewide Summit on Safe Schools in Oklahoma City, convened by Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.

Thousands of parents, teachers and students participated in the first ever Warning Signs for Parents forum, featuring Dr. Russ Newman, APA's executive director for professional practice, and Dr. Pam Fisher of the Oklahoma Psychological Association.

During the forum, a portion of the Warning Signs documentary was screened, followed by a dynamic dialogue with the audience about ways parents can talk to their children about violence and other important issues.

Audience members were given Warning Signs guides and Communication Tips for Parents, which is one of the new components of APA's Warning Signs for Parents initiative.

"The Summit on Safe Schools in Oklahoma provided an ideal opportunity to unveil the next step in our efforts to turn the tide on youth violence by closing the communication gap," Newman says. "Oklahoma's attention and comprehensive approach to this important issue is commendable."

The summit also featured a keynote address from entertainer Bill Cosby, whose message echoed that of APA's Warning Signs for Parents initiative.

Using a combination of comedy and reflection on his own childhood, Cosby underscored the need for parents and youth to communicate when he said, "You have to ask yourself people, what have you got to lose by talking about things?"

Following the summit, Warning Signs for Parents materials have been further refined based on feedback from practitioners at the State Leadership Conference.

The new kit for practitioners will include an updated discussion guide, resource information for parents, Communication Tips for Parents, as well as sample press materials, planning checklists and activity suggestions.

When completed, the parent kits will be mailed to all current Warning Signs kit holders and provided to any APA member who requests Warning Signs materials through the campaign's toll-free number, 877.274.8787, ext. 135.

Communication Tips for Parents will also be available to the public at no cost through APA's toll-free number, 800.268.0078, or through the Help Center Web site at helping.apa.org.

State Registration Lists Coming Soon

Watch your mail in June for information on practitioners who have requested Warning Signs materials in your state.

Each Public Education Campaign Coordinator will receive a list of psychologists from their state who have contacted APA's Campaign Services Bureau for Warning Signs kits. Lists will include addresses and phone numbers.

This valuable information can be used to recruit new members for state associations, track Warning Signs activity in your area or to plan new events and programs.

Engage Colleagues in Warning Signs Program

The recent launch of Warning Signs for Parents provides new opportunities for practitioners to engage colleagues in the Warning Signs initiative.

At the State Leadership Conference in March, Public Education Campaign Coordinators talked about ways to encourage practitioners to hold Warning Signs forums. Their recommendations include:

• Hosting a reception to show the video
• Presenting a Warning Signs forum training at annual and mid-year conferences (consider providing CE credits for the training)
• Promoting your state's Warning Signs efforts on listservs to association members
• Providing certificates to those who hold forums
• Assigning a group within your state association to set up forums for members

Ideas in Practice

The Hawaii Psychological Association has already put the last recommendation into practice. PEC Coordinator Dr. Graham Taylor and Dr. David Ross are planning Warning Signs forums at about a dozen local high schools. Information about the schools and potential forum dates are e-mailed to association members, allowing psychologists to choose the school that best fits their schedule.

"It makes it easy for the psychologists because the logistics are already taken care of," says Dr. Taylor.

Reach Out to Graduate Students

Involving graduate students is another way campaign coordinators are trying to foster new Warning Signs activity. Associations can cooperate with an area college and present the program as part of graduate coursework.

Dr. Jerri Whiting, PEC Coordinator for the Missouri Psychological Association, is working to incorporate Warning Signs into the fieldwork component for psychology interns at the Forrest Institute. Students will receive academic credit for presenting Warning Signs to rural schools in southwest Missouri.

Warning Signs has also been incorporated into the training experience of practicum students by Dr. Val Umphress, Director of Training at the American School of Professional Psychology - Hawaii campus.

Teen concerns about bullying have been a consistent theme in Warning Signs forums held across the country.

As a result, APA's Campaign Services Bureau has received many requests from practitioners for resource information on bullying and conflict resolution.

Following are resources that offer useful information for psychologists, parents and teachers.

• National Center for Conflict Resolution Education
  (877) 24-PEACE
  www.nccre.org
• Safe Child Home Page
  Put together by the Coalition for Children
  Phone: 1-303-320-6321
  www.safechild.org
• Teaching Students To Be Peacemakers Program
  University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development
  Phone: (612) 624-7031
  www.clcrc.com
• Bully B'Ware Productions
  Producer of videos, posters and books for students and teachers on taking action against bullying.
  Phone/Fax: (604) 936-8000 or 1-888-552-8559
  www.bullybeware.com
• International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution - Columbia University
  Phone: (212) 678-3402
  www.tc.columbia.edu/~icccr/
• Program for Young Negotiators, Inc.
  Phone: (888) 832-2479