Parents' Understanding About Children's Bullying: Fall ConsumerStyles Survey, United States, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The purpose of this study was to explore U.S. parents' and caregivers' understanding about children's bullying-what bullying is and how to address it. We analyzed 2017, 2018, and 2019 Fall ConsumerStyles online panel survey data from U.S. parents/caregivers of children ages 10 to 17 years (N = 1,516), including 20 items representing statements consistent or inconsistent with the bullying prevention evidence and best practices. Percentage of endorsement for each item and a summary measure of understanding about bullying were calculated. The association between low overall understanding about bullying and sociodemographic characteristics was explored. Most parents identified bullying as harmful (77%), repetitive (63%), and involving power imbalance (51%). At least half of parents answered 13 or more items (20 total) consistent with the bullying prevention evidence or best practices. Being male, non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, having high school or less education, and small household size were associated with higher odds of low overall understanding about bullying. Awareness of parents' understanding about bullying and how to appropriately address it is vital for bullying prevention. Findings can inform the strategic development of bullying prevention health messages for parents.

The Dating Matters® Toolkit: Approaches to increase adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive violence prevention model.

Purpose: This practical implementation report describes a comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model-Dating Matters®-and the approach taken to maximize its potential for widespread dissemination through development of the Dating Matters Toolkit. Dating Matters has evidence of effectiveness for preventing teen dating violence and other adolescent risk behaviors from a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Identifying strategies that reduce barriers to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based comprehensive prevention models, like Dating Matters, is critical to their widespread adoption. Lessons learned from creating the Toolkit can inform the development and dissemination of similar comprehensive prevention strategies and speed their adoption and use in the field. Approach: We engaged in a multi-pronged, data-driven approach to maximize adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the Dating Matters model based on multiple data sources and lessons learned from the demonstration project, while retaining core components and content of the evaluated model. Potential barriers to the national dissemination of Dating Matters were identified in four key areas: training, technical assistance, model flexibility, and accessibility. A series of modifications were made to the implementation model to address these challenges and facilitate scale-up prior to national dissemination. We outline these challenges and describe solutions implemented through the development of the Dating Matters Toolkit. Outcomes: The Dating Matters Toolkit includes web-based facilitator training, enhanced implementation support through a new staff role and community of practice, online comprehensive implementation guidance and resources, and added flexibility to improve feasibility and adoption in communities during capacity-building. Findings from an initial evaluation of the Toolkit suggest users perceived the comprehensive model as feasible and accessible with enough implementation support. Most expressed interest in adopting the model. Users described cost and stakeholder buy-in as remaining barriers. Ongoing improvements to the Toolkit to address these challenges and future research to evaluate its effectiveness are planned.