Mark Neblett with Kentucky's Attorney General Jack Conway

• Make a Difference for Kids was an active proponent for Kentucky's Bullying Bill (HB91) which was signed into law April 2008. In addition to other requirements, this law requires school officials to contact law enforcement if a student has been the victim of a violation of a felony offence specified in KRS Chapter 508 which was committed by another student while on school premises, on school-sponsored transportation, or at a school-sponsored event.
  
  
• Make a Difference for Kids supported House Bill 315, which was signed into law March 2009. This new legislation protects children from internet predators and amends Kentucky's stalking statute to include cyberstalking.

Mark Neblett and Sheila Stanton at the signing of HB315

• Make a Difference for Kids supported HB51 which was signed into law March 2010. This law requires that every public middle and high school administrator disseminate suicide prevention awareness information to students at the beginning of the school year.
  
  
• Make a Difference for Kids supported SB65 , also known as the Make a Difference for Kids Act of 2010. This bill requires two hours of suicide prevention training for all middle and high school administrators, teachers, and counselors.
  

Mark Neblett speaking in Frankfort at the signing of HB315

• Make a Difference for Kids members speak at schools, churches, and other community organizations and events to raise public awareness about cyberbullying and suicide. Our speakers are iSafe certified trainers.

Trainers

• Make a Difference for Kids members are certified QPR Gatekeeper trainers for suicide prevention. Would you give an hour to save a life? If so, contact:

Certified Trainers

Mark Neblett with U.S. Congressman, John Yarmouth

• Make a Difference for Kids is teaming with school administrators, law enforcement officials, and local government leaders to plan strategies and adopt policies dealing with cyberbullying and teen suicide.
  
  
  • Make A Difference for Kids along with leaders from Mt. Washington, KY and the Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group started the Bullitt County Suicide Prevention Coalition on May 21, 2008. The purpose of this group is to create community awareness about suicide in Bullitt County, increase ways that the community can participate in suicide prevention efforts in the county, and reduce the risk of suicide and attempts in the community, particularly for Bullitt County youth.
    
    
  • Make a Difference for Kids believes that every teacher and administrator should be trained to recognize the risks and warning signs of youth suicide. Members are seeking to gain public support for mandatory suicide prevention training in all Kentucky schools.

Mark Neblett at the Kentucky State Capitol

• Make a Difference for Kids is increasing public awareness regarding Internet safety and teen suicide through interviews with television stations and newspapers.
  
  
  • WAVE 3 TV - April 25, 2007
    Family of teen who took her own life pushing lawmakers for anti-bullying ordinance
  • WAVE 3 TV - April 25 2007
    Internet safety seminar points out the realities of cyber bullying
  • WAVE 3 TV - April 25, 2007
    Lawmakers fail to act on anti-bullying bill
    
  • Courier Journal - April 29, 2007
    Online threats terrify students
  • KAIT K8 ABC Jonesboro, AR - May 8, 2007
    Protecting Children by Preventing Cyber Bullying
  • Courier Journal - May 8, 2007
    Bullitt East group fights suicide and cyber-bullies
  • WLKY 32 TV- May 16, 2007
    Bullitt County Sheriff Wants Online Crackdown
  • WAVE 3 TV - May 18, 2007
    Parents becoming Internet-savvy to protect children from online dangers
  • Fox 41 TV - November 3, 2007
    Bikers for Christ Rally in Mt. Washington
  • WHAS 11 TV - November 8, 2007
    A MySpace Lesson
  • WAVE 3 TV - January 1, 2008
    15 months after teen's suicide, family again urging lawmakers to pass anti-bullying law
  • Courier Journal - January 9, 2008
    Parents urged to get savvy, monitor kids' Internet use
    Cyber-bullying among issues at forum on dangers
  • WAVE 3 TV - February 21, 2008
    Parents urged to keep an eye on their child's internet usage
    
  • WAVE 3 TV - March 5, 2008
    Conway proposes sweeping changes to deal with internet predators
    
  • WHAS 11 TV - July 15, 2008
    Cyber-bullying becoming more and more of a problem
    
  • CW Louisville -Yo Soy Louisville! - March 1, 2009
    Suicide prevention panel
  • WHAS 11 TV - November 21, 2009
    Dangers of Technology: Cyberbullying, stalking can have damaging effects
  • WHAS 11 TV - January 1, 2010
    Cyberbullying 101 - Faculty at Bullitt Central High School Learn How to Deal
  • WAVE 3 TV - January 28, 2010
    KY legislators work for suicide prevention in teens
  • WHAS 11 TV - February 2, 2010
    Teen suicide prevention bill up for a vote in Frankfort

Sheila Stanton on Internet Safety panel sponsored by U.S. Congressman, John Yarmouth

• Make a Difference for Kids members present at numberous Internet Safety conferences and events. These include:
  
  
  • 2006 iJam in Mt. Washington, KY
  • 2007 & 2008 Great Kid's Summitt in Louisville, KY
  • 2008 Biker's for Christ Rally in Mt. Washington, KY
  • 2008 Internet Safety Forum sponsored by Congressman Yarmouth in Louisville, KY
  • 2008 Cyber-Parenting sponsored by Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Family Resource and Youth Service Centers, Louisville KY
  • 2008 School Age Child Care Institute, Louisville, KY
  • 2008 Crime Victims' Rights Day Rally, Frankfort, KY
  • 2008 Internet Safety for Administrators, Louisville, KY
  • 2008 Health Promotions for Excellence Conference, Louisville, KY
  • 2008 JCPS Classified Summer Institute, Louisville KY
  • 2008 Kentucky PTA Conference in Louisville, KY
  • 2008 Indiana State University Southeast "Violence in Schools" Seminar
  • 2008 Kick Off for Suicide Prevention Week in Frankfort
  • 2008 iJam, Lexington, KY
  • 2009 Kentucky School Counselors Association Conference, Lexington, KY
  • 2009 Kentucky PTA Conference in Louisville, KY
  • 2009 Imagine the Future of Learning Conference, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
  • 2009 JCPS Technoversity, Louisville, KY
  • 2009 Parent University, Gheens Academy, Louisville, KY
    
  • 2010 Boy Scout Conference, Louisville, KY
  • 2010 School Age Child Care Conference, Louisville, KY

Mark Neblett speaking at Kentucky State Capitol

• Make a Difference for Kids is working with the artistic community to find creative ways to inform teachers, parents, and teens of the tragic effects of cyberbullying and suicide.
  
  
  • Youth Performing Arts School in Jefferson County, Kentucky wrote, produced, directed, and performed two plays on teen suicide at the request of Make a Difference for Kids.
    
    
  • Mark Neblett is featured in a promotional video and the newsletter produced by the Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group for 2008 Suicide Prevention Week.
    
    For a copy of the full-length DVD "Let's Talk: Kentuckians Affected by Suicide End the Silence" video, which runs approximately 28 minutes, contact Jan Ulrich, with the Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group.
    
    
  • Make a Difference for Kids in collaboration with the theatre group, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, and the Computer Education Support Unit of Jefferson County Public Schools, help sponsor and produce an interactive play on the subject of cyberbullying and suicide.
    
    CHOICES is type of interactive play based on Augusta Boal’s “Theater of the Oppressed.”  The play consist of three actors, the antagonist, protagonist, and Joker.  The actors perform a 20 min skit on cyberbullying – taking the conflict up to the point, but stopping short of violence (in this case suicide).  The Joker then asks the students to suggest different actions for the actors to carry out onstage in an attempt to change the outcome.  The antagonist would problematize the situation, balancing successes and failures, until a solution is reached. This type of drama teaches students problem solving skills, and becomes a rehearsal for life in dealing with cyberbullying.

  For more information visit CHOICES: An Interactive Play on Cyberbullying and Suicide.