A second anti-bullying session open to the Cumberland County community is set to take place at 6 p.m. on March 20 at the LPJ Multipurpose Room in the Cumberland County Middle/High School Complex. Dr. Amy Griffin, superintendent of Cumberland County Public Schools (CUCPS), said during the county’s board of supervisors meeting Tuesday that Cumberland County organizations are partnering to end bullying in the county’s schools through an anti-bullying program that was recently established.

Griffin said the program includes support from parents, teachers, administrators, representatives of Cumberland County Department of Social Services, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

“Lots of different agencies came out to help us partner together to prevent bullying in school, at home, in cyberspace, in the community,” Griffin said.

The first planning session took place in February. Griffin added that administration and staff at Cumberland County Elementary School held a roundtable to discuss anti-bullying efforts.

She noted that Jenny McIntosh, a pastor of New Life Church, who has spoken at schools in Central Virginia and Florida, will speak to middle and high school students about bullying on April 19 and 25.

Other initiatives to support students Griffin said include potentially hiring a behavioral specialist for the elementary school or counseling services.

“Sometimes students need counseling sessions outside of school, but you have to go out of the community to get those services,” Griffin said, “so we will hopefully have a provider come into the schools to have an office so it’s convenient for the students and the families.”

She said the expenses for the behavioral specialist will come from federal Title 1 funds, which support local educational agencies and wouldn’t incur extra expenses in the county.

Griffin noted that in an effort to get parents more involved, the division will soon be hosting Parent Camps, or workshops that take place once a month and discuss subjects ranging from internet safety to painting events.

McIntosh said Dr. Chip Jones contacted her about potentially speaking with students.

McIntosh, on her website, said she was inspired to start a campaign against anti-bullying when her oldest daughter, Savannah, was bullied in high school.

“I was greatly inspired by her positive attitude despite the odds that she faced,” McIntosh posted on her website. “Even though she was taunted and mocked ceaselessly, she remained positive and kind. It filled me with compassion for the students facing tough situations and gave me empathy for bullies. I decided to become a voice that challenged the status quo.”

She said the Cumberland initiative is a needed step to promote positive change in the lives of students and commended the administration members’ actions in establishing the partnership.

“I’m very excited about Cumberland, because they’re being very proactive in how they’re dealing with it,” McIntosh said, who said she is set to speak at schools in Prince Edward and Buckingham counties. “It’s just been overwhelming, the response. I’m very, very excited about what’s happening.”

More information about McIntosh’s campaign can be found at mytruthbomb.com.