The objective of this program is to create a caring culture on every school campus that does not tolerate the mistreatment of any person. Students, faculty and parents are educated to recognize inappropriate aggressive behaviors and equipped with productive and appropriate strategies to intervene in bullying situations. The program's focus is to:

• Increase caring/inclusive behaviors
• Increase intervention behaviors
• Decrease bullying
• Decrease anti-social behaviors
• Truancy
• Fighting
• Improve academic and social achievement

Results indicate that as high as 78 % of participants in this program during the school years 2005-2009 reported an increase in exhibited caring behaviors, as many as 62% reported an increase in exhibited intervention behaviors, and up to 56% reported a decrease in observed acts of bullying.

"This program highly impacted our children by giving them a more profound awareness of how to deal with bullying situations. As a whole 3^rd grade level, the children feel safer and are more assertive. This program was highly effective and successful with our students." - 3^rd Grade Team, Kruse Elementary

"Thank you for proving to be a true professional and sympathetic to our needs.  You are doing a magnificent job of keeping us on track to making this program our own while not 'throwing us into the fire." - Teacher, Miller Intermediate School

Students attend trainings to better identify the motivation behind inappropriate behavior and learn skills that will help them manage conflict appropriately. Through this program, students will:

• Gain personal insight
• Improve decision-making skills
• Establish important social and life skills
• Increase constructive communication skills

"There is no way I could adequately express the positive impact Conflict Resolution has had on the students here at Jessup Elementary thanks to the dedicated staff at Innovative Alternatives. Our school is a much better place due to the influence of Innovative Alternatives. - Suzanne Hubbard, Counselor; Pasadena I.S.D.

Students learn to facilitate the mediation process - a process that guides fellow students in creating their own solutions to conflict. Through this training students will:

• Practice effective intervention skills
• Learn to understand perspectives and consequences of conflict
• Brainstorm future-focused solutions
• Develop clear, fair, realistic agreements

"Peer Mediation changed my life. It taught me to solve problems. If peer mediation was never on this campus, imagine what this school would be like." - 7^thgrade student, Queens Intermediate

"Students have taken ownership and responsibility for, not only themselves, but their relationships with others.  Kids are looking out for each other." - Teacher, Dobie High School

In the past two years alone, IAI has accomplished several major achievements through its Violence Prevention Programs. Project S.A.V.E. - Students Against Violence in Education, a program that empowers students to take initiative and responsibility to create a caring community and focuses on acknowledging the positive choices made by doing so - was successfully launched in April of 2006. Our Operation Bully-Proofing program has also effectively implemented National Anti-Bullying Campaigns and Bullying Simulations on campuses throughout Houston allowing students to utilize and practice trained intervention techniques in a safe and controlled environment. Between 2004 and 2007, IAI trainers served approximately 8500 students, faculty and parents on school campuses in Pasadena, Galena Park and Santa Fe Independent School Districts. Each trainee received an average of 4 hours of training for a total of 34,000 hours of individualized education.

In its history, IAI has impacted over 300 schools in more than 28 districts in the Harris, Brazoria, and Galveston county areas by establishing and implementing these programs that prevent violence and consequently reduce anti-social behavior as well as increase academic achievement, graduation rates, teacher retention rates and inspire healthy relationships.

Students learn how to recognize and assertively express anger and related emotions more effectively, thereby improving relationships, resolving conflict and reaching goals. This program focuses on helping students:

• Display self-control
• Increase awareness
• Improve decision making skills
• Communicate constructively