Causes: Crime & Law, Crime Prevention

Mission: The organization's primary exempt purpose is to bridge the gap between research and direct application in order to reduce the incidence of violence and to assist victims and their families.

Programs: May conference - the institute's 18th annual conference was held at christ the king lutheran church, in coral gables, fl. The title of the conference was "ways to improve community-based, education and psychotherapeutic interventions: applying the lessons learned. " melissa institute scientific director donald meichenbaum, phd. , joined pschologists steve dykstra, phd. , of milwaukee, and scott miller, phd. , of phoenix, in discussing community-based interventions that have proven successful. The conference critically examined described ways to improve outcomes of psychotherapy. Since 1997 the melissa institute has presented an annual conference for teachers, school counselors, social workers, therapists, law enforcement personnel and others to provide evidence-based information on ways to prevent and treat violence. More than 100 professionals attended this conference.

act (adults and children raising safe kids) this program took place throughout the year at many different venues. The act facilitator training included attendees from north carolina, peru and mexico. A second training had registrants from mississippi and pennsylvania which represents a broadening geographic area. Approximately six parent-training programs were held in several locations. The institute serves as the southeast regional directorate for this program for the american psychological association. Tmi partnered with the united states attorney's office, southern district of florida, violence reduction partnerships to conduct act programs for parents at robert ingram elementary school in opa locka and martin luther king ymca pre-school in liberty city. Additional se regional act parenting programs have been given in homestead, key largo, memphis, tn and puerto rico.

bullying education series - the bullying education series was held in october. Scientific board member dr. Debra pebler shared her expertise as she conducted a bullying prevention youth conference for 134 gulliver middle school 5th graders. Additionally, dr. Pepler presented pediatric grand rounds at the university of miami miller school of medicine. She was also the keynote speaker at a half-day conference on "preventing agression and bullying in school and community: multi-systemic approaches". The 12th elementary school student conference for bullying prevention with was presented by julie astuto, palmetto elementary counselor and trish ramsay, education director of the melissa institute. They worked with 120 fourth and fifth-grade students from 12 schools. Each of the participating schools sent their counselor who also was able to be trained in how to run a bullying prevention program in their schools.

other program services include belfer aptman scholars, consultations, website and various in school programs.