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New SUPERB App Keeps Students Safe

Students, Parents and Educators Get Immediate 24/7 Help When Facing Bullying

Tallahassee – FL, 05/05/2015 –  A revolutionary new app has been released that allows users to report a dangerous situation or just get professional advice on how to handle a conflict with a push of a button.

SuperbApp_Logo-Icon180x180_ReversedStudents United with Parents and Educators to Resolve Bullying (SUPERB) unveiled ResolveBullying. The website and app spring from SUPERB’s belief that with the help of unbiased, professional counselors, adolescents can better handle the isolation, exclusion, shaming, labeling and bullying that may otherwise derail their future. In more extreme cases, the app allows for users to record dangerous behavior with their mobile device and even anonymously connect to 911 if needed.

The app was created by Heather Beaven, CEO of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates (The Foundation,) an organization that manages a fleet of programs to help Florida students succeed academically and socially. SUPERB helps young people identify, navigate and reject the psychological trauma that is becoming common in middle and high school environments. Beaven hopes the app will help young people and families develop healthy ways to protect themselves against the long-term damage created by bullying. 

“The research is very clear. Bullies, victims and bystanders are significantly damaged by this behavior well into adulthood,” says Beaven. “Long- term damage includes higher rates for substance abuse, depression, anxiety, suicide and unemployment in victims. While bullies are more likely to turn to criminal activity and participate in risky sexual behaviors, even bystanders are at increased risk of depression and a reduced ability to connect deeply with others.”

“SUPERB has been helping students protect themselves emotionally since 2004, but until now, we were only able to help families whose school invited us onto a campus. This app allows us to help anyone who needs us without regard to geography or hour of the day,” said Beaven.

Funds for the SUPERB app were provided by the 2013-2014 Florida education budget, and the app is powered by Salesforce CRM and the Ionic Mobile Framework. Candoris uses cutting-edge technology in order to provide powerful functionality in real time to the cloud. The app is currently available in the United States for download on both Apple and Google devices. To download now, go to http://resolvebullying.org/about. “Kids have always been under tremendous pressure and we simply can’t thank people like Speaker Will Weatherford, Representative Fresen, Senator Gaetz, Senator Montford and Senator Ring, as well as the Florida Department of Education and Governor Rick Scott for recognizing the pressure no longer eases at the ringing of the school bell,” said Beaven.

About The Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates

The Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates exists to assist parents and educators in creating socially-adept, academically-capable, self-disciplined, and goal-oriented young people who are prepared to fully capitalize on future opportunities. http://www.flgraduates.org

The Foundation’s Family of Services

Jobs for Florida’s Graduates (JFG), an affiliate of Jobs for America’s Graduates, is a robust work and life skills development program for middle and high school students. The program allows students to explore careers, work within teams, develop leadership skills, create and manage wealth, serve their communities and build a workable plan for their post-graduation life.

Girls Get IT (GGIT) is an initiative designed to engage girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers, with the purpose of empowering to pursue high-skill coursework in college and beyond.

VOiCE (Victory Over Instability by Choosing Education) is a science, technology, engineering, arts and math initiative for students interested in exploring courses, majors and careers found in the industries of technology and art, such as gaming, web design, and sound engineering.

SUPERB (Students United with Parents and Educators to Resolve Bullying) is an innovative safe-schools initiative in which mental health professionals coordinate high-energy workshops in elementary, middle, and high schools. SUPERB gives students the leadership and character skills they need to understand safe intervention techniques and to better empathize peers who are being excluded or isolated.

palatka

Foundation officially opens new Madison Street facility

A new center for educational opportunity is now open on Palatka’s Northside. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon for the new Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates at 1100 Madison St.

“The first day I started here, I knew it was going to be a blessing,” said Kamarre Anders, a student in the center’s first graduating class.

Anders joined fellow his classmates Shon’Tavia Cooper, Antwan Johnson-Tobler, Lucious Jackson, Donell Johnson and Azurnisha Ulysse in helping state Rep. Travis Hutson cut the ceremonial ribbon at the center Tuesday.

“I know you all are used to being introduced as the dignitaries,” said Heather Beaven, CEO of Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates, as she spoke to a crowd of local officials. “These six students are the dignitaries today.”

Beaven said the Palatka center is the only stand-alone facility for the foundation, which was shaped in 2003. She said a group of students from the foundation’s Jobs for Florida Graduates program at Palatka High School sought out the property at the corner of 11th and Madison streets six years ago.

“Those students tracked down the owner of the property through the property appraiser’s website and asked the owner if they would be interested in donating it,” she said. “The students did all of that.”

Last year, construction began at the site as Mobile Modulars donated the two modular buildings that would be used as classrooms for each of the foundation’s four programs.

The six students in the first class of Jobs for Florida Graduates at the center are expected to earn their Facility Maintenance Certification in March, as they helped build the deck and ramp and place furniture.

The group plans to also place all of the landscaping and fencing on the property under the instruction of James Bontempo, Facilities Maintenance Instructor for HBI.

“I haven’t done anything like this before,” Anders said. “I feel accomplished.”

Hutson, R-Elkton, who grew up in Elkton, said he supported programs like Jobs for Florida Graduates because a lot of people find that they can excel in postsecondary education.

“High school and college only gets you so far and some people just aren’t made for it,” he said. “That’s why I believe in these programs.”

Tobler said he thinks the new center was placed in the perfect location to draw interest from Palatka residents who are looking to expand their educations. “They come by and see us working out here,” he said. “I think it will really help the community.”

Johnson said he’s already seen an impact since he’s been a part of the 11-week program. “There will be a lot of people in the next class,” he said. The Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates in Palatka offers the Jobs for Florida Graduates 11-week program to applicants ages 18-21.

Programs available for middle school and high school-age students include a “Girls get IT” STEM program, “Superb” anti-bullying program and “VOiCE” art and technology program. Applications are available at the center. For more information about the foundation, visit flgraduates.org.
aaikins@palatkadailynews.com

This article originally appeared on the Palatka Daily News.

Workforce development and education expert Heather Beaven illustrates how bullying affects future economy.

Heather Beaven to speak at Clemson about bullying issues

Flagler Beach, FL, 01/28/2015 –  Clemson University has invited Heather Beaven, CEO of The Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida’s Graduates (The Foundation), to present at the annual At-Risk Youth National Forum. Beaven’s presentation is entitled “Isolation, Exclusion and Bullying in Schools is a Workforce Development Concern.”

The At-Risk Youth National Forum is an annual event designed to enhance the leadership skills of all adults who are seeking to strengthen interventions among school, community, and families, especially to assist those in at-risk situations. The forum will be held Sunday, February 15, 2015, through Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at the Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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