Hillsborough County’s Bully Busters Program received the 2011 Crystal Award from the Florida Government Communicator Association (FGCA). The Bully Busters Program was selected out of more than 40 entries, and was recognized at the group’s annual ceremony held last month.

Bully Busters is a comprehensive public awareness campaign developed by the County’s Criminal Justice Office to bring attention to the problem of bullying; educate the public; encourage reporting bullying behavior; and promote a zero-tolerance attitude toward bullying in Hillsborough County.

Bully Busters, the Bully Busters Youth Council, and the Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee are all part of Hillsborough County’s anti-bullying efforts initiated by former Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita in August 2009. Commissioner Sandra Murman is now a driving force behind the County’s bullying prevention initiatives.

Last year, Bully Busters was featured in the NACo County News newsletter as a national leader in the effort to stem youth bullying.

Bully Busters has won multiple awards including the 2011 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), Superior Award from the National Association of County Information Officers; the Silver Circle Award from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA); and an Award of Merit from the Tampa Bay chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for its comprehensive public awareness campaign.

For more information on the Bully Busters Program contact the Criminal Justice Office at 813- 276-2126.