Cyber-bullying topic of Jan. 15 AAUW community forum

The annual Community Forum sponsored by the Coastal-Georgetown American Association of University Women will focus on cyber-bullying - what it is, what schools and organizations are doing to address the issue and what tools and resources are available to parents, teachers and children to assist them when confronting cyber-bullying.

Cosponsoring organizations include: Children & Families First, AAUW Delaware, Girls Inc. of DE, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, Wilmington University, League of Women Voters of Sussex County and Delaware Bullying Prevention Association.

Cyber-bullying is a nationwide issue that affects all ages, but is particularly difficult for school-age children. National statistics show that about one-third of middle and high school students report being bullied and nearly one million school-age children are cyber-bullied annually

The AAUW Forum will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Epworth UM Church, Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth.  No pre-registration is needed.

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden will speak about current cyber-bullying legislation.

The featured speaker, Dr. Julius Mullen, chief clinical officer of Children & Families First, will speak about the increasing problem of cyber-bullying as it relates to awareness and prevention strategies from a parent and teacher perspective.  A panel of experts will address aspects of bullying. Panel members include John Sadowski, Delaware Department of Education; Coleen O’Connor, Delaware Bullying Prevention Association; and Chris Beagle, CAMP Rehoboth. Dr. Rebecca Ghabour, chair of psychology at Wilmington University, will moderate. Time will be set aside for questions and answers.

AAUW is committed to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.  The Coastal-Georgetown branch has a membership of over 90 women who actively pursue this mission through advocating at the state legislature for issues impacting women and children such as pay equity, affordable housing, foster care and early education.

Beginning in 2007, the C-G AAUW has sponsored a January Community Forum that explores topics of interest and importance to residents in Sussex County, particularly women and children.  Past forums examined gender pay equity, implementation of the Race to the Top federal grant, early childhood poverty, health and education in Sussex County and women in the Delaware prison system.

C-G AAUW funds local scholarships to young women graduating from the Sussex County public schools, presents awards at the Sussex County Science Fair, recognizes junior girls nominated by their high schools for accomplishments in science or mathematics, and works with Sussex schools to encourage young women to enter the STEM fields.  For further information about AAUW, contact Co-Presidents Sheri Borrin, 302-226-2296 or Betsy Baumeister, 302-226-5154.