With August marking the beginning of another new school year, I wanted to take the time to introduce myself and to reintroduce the Citywide Youth Bullying Prevention Program (YBPP). My name is Ernest Shepard and I am the Program Manager of the YBPP. I joined OHR in April 2022, after spending four years working for DC Public Schools. In my previous role, I investigated allegations of race-based discrimination, sex-based discrimination, and bullying for all 115 schools in the DCPS system. I am also a certified Title IX investigator, and previously served as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator. In that role, I was the lead investigator for allegations involving, sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, stalking, etc. Prior to my time with DCPS, I worked on Title IX-related issues at the University of Washington and at North Carolina State University.  

Our Youth Bullying Prevention report from the 2019-2020 school year indicated that although the rates of bullying in the District remain significantly lower in the areas of bullying at school (12.7 percent compared to 19.5 percent) and cyberbullying (10.6 percent to 15.7 percent) compared to national averages, we have one of the highest rates (14.1 percent compared to 8.0 percent) of fighting in school among states and localities across the country. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bullying in school rates remained statistically consistent from 2017 (11.5 percent) to 2019, though there was a significant increase in cyberbullying from 8.9 percent in 2017 to 10.5 percent in 2019. These statistics demonstrate the continue need and growth of the YBPP. 

The Citywide Youth Bullying Prevention Program was established in June 2013 to reduce incidents of bullying across the District by emphasizing prevention and proper procedures for responding when incidents occur. The YBPP takes a district-wide approach – moving beyond just in-school prevention – making it one of the most unique and far-reaching government bullying prevention programs in the nation.  

You can learn more about bullying here. Parents and guardians can learn more about what to do if their child may be suspected of bullying here. For questions about the program, you can reach out to me at bullyingprevention@dc.gov or (202) 519-3333. 

Warmly,

Familial responsibilities is a protected trait under the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977. It covers supporting a person in a dependent relationship, which includes, but it not limited to, your children, grandchildren, and parents.

DID YOU KNOW? Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase (267%) in Americans living in multigenerational households between 2011 and 2017. An estimated 66.7 million adults ages 18 and over are in these unique living situations, and that number is expected to continue to rise. There are a few common types, including: three-generation, grandfamilies, two adult generations, and four generation households. Three generation households are the most common and consists of working-age adults, one or more of their children, and either aging parent(s) or grandchildren. Grandfamilies are headed by a n older individual or couple who live with grandchildren under the age of 18. Two adult generations consist of parent(s) and child(ren) under the age of 18 to 22. Four generation, in which parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, adult children, and their children, is also becoming more common.