County Executive Laura Curran Signs Legislator Joshua Lafazan’s Bill Creating Bullying Prevention Resource Website
Mineola, NY - July 12, 2018 - A bill sponsored by Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury) ordering the creation of NassauStopBullying.org, a county-operated website to be filled with vital bullying prevention information and resources for youth and their families, was signed into law by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran July 11.
The measure, which clears the way for the website to be completed before the start of the 2018-2019 school year, was approved unanimously by the full Nassau County Legislature during its July 9 meeting.
“When a young person is being bullied, their families might not know where to turn or how to seek relief. This new website will ensure that critical, potentially life-saving resources are just a click away,” Legislator Lafazan said. “I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for their support and proud to stand with County Executive Curran in this effort to make Nassau County schools safer places for all students to reach their maximum potential.”
“There is no excuse for bullying,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “And bullying can happen anywhere, at any time. That is why it is so important that we do all we can to protect our youth while educating our children, parents, educators and communities on bullying prevention. Legislator Lafazan’s initiative will streamline that process by making important antibullying resources and information more accessible to all our residents.”
Legislator Lafazan’s initiative directs the County’s Department of Information Technology, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Nassau County Police Department, to create a website including: definitions of bullying; explanations of different types of bullying; guidance for spotting bullying and bullies; and bullying prevention resources. The website will also contain resources for young people being bullied because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
For more information, please contact Danny Schrafel at 516-571-4214 or dschrafel@nassaucountyny.gov.
Under the statute, the website must be live no later than Aug. 31, be regularly updated, and contain the names and contact information for each Nassau County school district’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) school coordinator.
In addition, the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying (LICAB) has pledged $10,000 to a public-service announcement promoting NassauStopBullying.org, said Joseph A. Salamone, Executive Director of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying.
“This is an important step in ongoing efforts to combat bullying on Long Island and gives victims, families and schools more centralized resources in their time of need,” Salamone said. “We would like to thank Legislator Lafazan and his team for their leadership and commitment to combatting bullying as well as to all those who have worked to see this legislation passed.”