Project Background 

Bullying continues to affect many families and has deep, long-lasting emotional impacts. It is defined as the repeated use of power to harm another person through unwanted words or actions, causing physical or emotional distress (PACER Center, 2023). Bullying is also recognized as a form of youth violence and an adverse childhood experience (ACE).

In 2024, HACER conducted seven interviews with Latino parents of middle school students in Madelia and St. James. All participants reported that their children experienced bullying, including racial, physical, and cyberbullying, often related to language, appearance, or cultural identity. Cyberbullying was commonly reported on platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok.

Parents described inconsistent school responses, limited Spanish-language communication, and unclear anti-bullying protocols, leading some families to seek support from law enforcement or healthcare providers.

The findings highlighted significant emotional, behavioral, and academic impacts on students and underscored the need for early intervention, stronger school–family communication, and culturally responsive support. These results informed HACER’s 2024 workshops with SMRLS and NAMI and support the expansion of workshops in 2025 to strengthen parental advocacy and access to legal and mental health resources.

Workshops Implementation

Use of 2024 Workshop Feedback to Design the 2025 Workshops

Feedback and pre–post survey data from the four 2024 workshops guided the design of the 2025 series. Results showed gains in knowledge, confidence, and awareness of resources, while also identifying content gaps and access barriers.

Legal workshop feedback highlighted strong interest and learning gains but varied baseline knowledge, leading to the creation of two dedicated 2025 workshops focused on legal tools and concrete advocacy steps.

Mental health workshop feedback showed high satisfaction and increased understanding of bullying’s emotional impact, supporting the addition of two 2025 workshops centered on culturally responsive mental health tools and resources.

Participation feedback also revealed scheduling barriers for working parents. In response, workshops were recorded and shared by email and text, a strategy that will continue in 2025 to expand access.