Conflict Resolution in Schools & After School

The Dispute Settlement Center (DSC) provides several services to schools that can help reduce conflicts and keep them from escalating. After prior arrangements have been made, DSC can provide on site co-mediation or facilitation on very short notice.

 

How Mediation Helps Schools

Mediation is facilitated dialogue in a safe, calm place. A mediator or facilitator assists all participants, whether students, parents, or school staff, in listening to each other and in finding new ways to reach common ground and/or prevent conflicts from happening in the future. For example, during direct dialogue between students, roots of a long-standing conflict can finally come to light. A neutral mediator or facilitator can also ensure a PPT meeting stays constructive and productive, even when emotions run high.

Examples of Conflict Situations we can Mediate

  • Fights
  • Truancy
  • Bullying
  • Special Education cases
  • Student-teacher conflicts

Why Bring in DSC When Schools have Staff Trained in Facilitation?

  • Good facilitation may require a neutral, non-staff person to manage the process, such as for some PPT meetings. We focus on keeping the communication constructive, open and understandable to all participants, and we do not take a position or give advice on the appropriateness of specific IEPs.
  • Two mediators are often needed for large groups, such as when multiple parents, gangs or cliques are involved.
  • Mediation is a skill needing constant practice. Our mediators can provide valuable feedback to school staff on technique after co-mediating.

Training

We provide various conflict resolution and mediation training modules depending on the needs of your school or after-school program needs:

  • Training of student peer mediators to handle certain disputes either in a new or revived peer mediation program. Experience across the US shows that peers provide even more effective mediation and can be valuable in following up on agreements.
  • Training for adult staff, including refresher courses on conflict management and mediation.
  • Conflict resolution skill building for in-school and after-school settings for students K-12. Our student trainings address communication, respect, managing emotions, decision-making, and bias awareness in age-appropriate ways.

Why choose DSC?

DSC's services are:

  • Effective: About 85% of all disputes that come to mediation or facilitation end in an agreement. More importantly, for youth, mediation reduces the likelihood that the conflict will surface again. In court-based cases, we see recidivism rates drop to one-fifth for youth who have participated in mediation compared to those who do not.
  • Less expensive: Mediation is less costly for both parents and schools than taking the matter to court.
  • Prompt: When arrangements have been made, DSC can respond to a school's request for help within a very short time frame.
  • Neutral: Since DSC's mediators and facilitators are not school staff or advocates for any party in the situation, we are more clearly neutral and able to be impartial in managing the dialogue.
  • Confidential: All discussions in mediation remain confidential.
  • Empowering: Participants are directly involved in making an agreement and thereby take ownership of the outcome or agreement.
  • Professional: Our mediators and trainers are all experienced professionals who regularly practice and hone their facilitation skills.

DSC's Experience in Connecticut Schools.

Over the years, we have provided training to a number of Connecticut public and private elementary, middle, and high schools, with evaluations showing a high satisfaction rate. The list includes:

  • Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk
  • Danbury Escape to the Arts
  • George Washington Carver Center in Norwalk
  • Harding High School in Bridgeport
  • Weston High School
  • Westport Public Schools
  • Briggs High School
  • Police Activities League after school program in Norwalk
  • Bassick High School in Bridgeport
  • Unquowa School in Fairfield
  • NEON Summer Camps
  • Brookside Elementary School/p>
  • West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk
  • Columbus Magnet School
  • Roton Middle School in Norwalk
  • Nathan Hale Middle School in Norwalk
  • Tracey Elementary School in Norwalk
  • Wolfpit Elementary School in Norwalk
  • Naramake Elementary School in Norwalk

To find out more about our services and any fees that may apply, please contact us. You can also download our brochure.