About

The ultimate goal of the Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute is to support those who are committed to reducing the incidence of bullying behaviors in schools throughout the 49-county service area of the Highmark Foundation. The Institute provides support in the following ways:

• Maintains this Website, which includes background information and insight as well as best bullying prevention practices for school personnel and their students and colleagues.
   
• Plans and presents Continuing Education (CE) sessions, which are designed to increase the skill level of those involved in bullying prevention initiatives within the school setting. 
   
• Funds research to establish key baseline measures and continued benchmarking that will allow for analysis of the impact of investments made within Pennsylvania to prevent bullying. 
   
• Supports two school-based prevention programs funded through Highmark Healthy High 5: HALT!^® A Bullying Prevention Program and PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environmental Success).

Both the HALT! and PA CARES bullying prevention programs are based on the internationally recognized, evidence-based Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) model. The Olweus program is not a curriculum, but rather a school-wide approach that focuses on changing behaviors, which leads to improved school climates and a reduction in anti-social behaviors.