AAO Observes National Bullying Prevention Month in October

The AAO will be observing National Bullying Prevention Month in October through its own anti-bullying program, Bullying Bites.

For the fifth consecutive year, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) will observe National Bullying Prevention Month in October in conjunction with National Orthodontic Health Month. The AAO will continue its partnership with Stand for the Silent, an anti-bullying organization founded in 2010.

The AAO’s anti-bullying awareness program, known as Bullying Bites, offers AAO members tools and creative materials to raise awareness about anti-bullying during the month of October.

To make it easy for members to join the #bullyingbites effort, the AAO provides creative, easy-to-use resources. Downloadable materials include pledge cards, social media posts, posters, and flyers for display in your office or at community events, and design files that may be used to produce Bullying Bites t-shirts for their team.

For those who are looking for a philanthropic option, the association invites members to consider financial support of volunteering as a provider for the AAO Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS) program; or sponsoring Stand for the Silent’s efforts to provide educational assembly programs at schools nationwide.

“This Anti-Bullying Month, the AAO stands with all those who have been affected by bullying. We encourage our members, staff, and the community to join us in raising awareness of this issue and taking action to end it,” said Lynne Thomas Gordon, AAO CEO. “The AAO, both as an association and as a specialty—are stronger when we are united. I hope each member takes the pledge against bullying and becomes an advocate in this fight.”