Megan Meier Foundation

Support center and counseling: in response to the thirteen million children being bullied every year, the Foundation has developed and implemented a community-based program that recognizes the issues of bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide in our world and takes an active approach to aid families who are negatively affected. The Foundation's programs incorporate evidence-based concepts from social-emotional learning, resiliency, signs of suicide sos, and applied suicide intervention skills training asist along with other reputable sources including government and nationally recognized organizations and professionals in the field. The Foundation is able to make a difference through actively listening to the needs of others providing the necessary support and referring these individuals to the very best professionals and organizations for further assistance. As of 2016, the Foundation started providing counseling to youth and their families negatively affected by bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. During the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Foundation provided the following supports: 17 students, individuals, and organizations received information, interviews, or consultations for personal projects for 3460 minutes or 58 hours. The support center has impacted 72 individuals and families negatively impacted by issues surrounding bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Staff worked with these individuals for a total of 7604 minutes or 127 hours. On average, staff spent 106 minutes, or 1.8 hours with each individual. The Foundation provides counseling services. During 2021-2022, 74 youth and their families received counseling services. There was an average of 9.5 sessions total per youth with 593.5 units of counseling provided. 100% showed improvement in symptoms and engagement with peers, and a decrease in anxiety and depression, fewer thoughts of suicide, and an increased sense of hope and optimism.

Leadership workshops: the Megan Meier Foundation has developed change starts with me. Leadership workshops that are designed to spread awareness & education while developing a firm knowledge base for students, and empower youth to be leaders against bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide within their own school and community. Through interactive activities, powerful media clips and images, real stories, information, and tools, students develop greater empathetic understanding and pro-social behaviors. Students explore topics of bullying, cyberbullying, online responsibility, peer-advocacy empathy, and suicide. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Foundation held 2 virtual workshops and educated 6,385 high school students and 4,205 middle school students, school educators, counselors, and administrators. Schools implemented their Megan's voice action plan and a total impact of 10,590 students was made. Covid-19 related school closures impacted workshops.

Speaking: through various speaking engagements, the Megan Meier Foundation increases overall understanding and awareness of the issues surrounding bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide, as well as provides necessary tools and resources to promote change through acceptance, compassion, and leadership. The Foundation's programs incorporate evidence-based concepts of social-emotional learning sel, resiliency, and positive behavioral interventions and support pbis among other reputable sources including government and nationally recognized organizations and professionals in the field. Presentations are catered to k-12 schools, educators, administrators, parent and community organizations, colleges, and other professionals. During the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Foundation provided presentations to 29 k-12 students, parents, educators, and professionals or a total reach of 16,613.

Community outreach: through community outreach, the Foundation continues to increase awareness and education on the issues surrounding bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide through participation in public events, community outreach, and media appearances. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Foundation provided the following: 10 community events due to covid and 14 media appearances, reaching thousands of k-12 students, educators, parents, and other professionals.