Mediation and Circle Processes
Mediation and Educational Programs (MEP) provides mediation services to the Baltimore City Circuit Court for custody and visitation cases. In addition, we provide court-ordered parent education and classes for children to help families in transition. We also accept private cases for professional mediation services dealing with family, business or workplace conflicts including divorce and separation proceedings, custody disputes, employment or contract issues, senior or school issues.
We facilitate Peacemaking Circles or conferences for families, schools and businesses, especially when groups are involved. Circles provide a way to bring people together to have difficult conversations and to work through conflicts or differences with the help of a trained facilitator.
Educational Program
Beyond our parenting and children’s classes for the Baltimore City Court program, MEP has successfully provided youth-oriented programs in over 70 schools since 1990. We have also offered faculty and staff training, and technical assistance, to many locally and nationally recognized organizations and schools. Programs in both male and female leadership and after-school programs for at-risk youth have also been provided
Our Peaceable Education Program evolved out of our work in peer mediation over the last twenty years. The PEP program is a comprehensive, three-year program that involves an entire school and seeks to promote transformation within the school community. We work with the administration, faculty, parents and students by providing specialized training in foundational life skills that lead to the ability to resolve conflicts non-violently. Students and adults learn basic coping techniques that allow them to become social-emotionally competent, effective communicators, as well as pragmatic problem solvers and successful conflict managers. The end goal is to reduce violence and to help form young leaders who can make a difference in their schools, future workplaces and communities for years to come.
The Peaceable Education Program includes two important components:
PREVENTION:
Preventing conflict from spiraling into violence is the ultimate goal. We equip students and adults with the skills and abilities to resolve conflict peacefully. We use an in-depth, educational approach to create a school culture that nourishes, supports and sustains the attitudes and expectations of peacemaking throughout the school community. Our work includes:
- Provide the CRETE (Conflict Resolution in Teacher Education) training in partnership with the CRETE Collaborative for the administration, faculty and parents.
- Establish a CORE TEAM within each school to oversee and lead the way forward as the school begins to assess needs, provide training and implement the specific approaches and programs that will allow them to become a truly peaceable school.
- Provide specialized WORKSHOPS and additional trainings in parent education, conflict resolution, class management and peace education for adults and students.
- Provide COACHING to teachers who commit to implementing the CRETE and PEP curriculum within their classrooms and schools.
- Offer the PEACEMAKERS CLUB in a series of 8 weekly sessions where students participate in experiential lessons and games. to develop the basic concepts and foundational skills necessary for effective conflict resolution and peacemaking.
- Training students as peer mediators and assisting the school with the development and implementation of a comprehensives school-wide PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM.
- Working with parents by providing PARENT WOPRKSHOPS, trainings and opportunities to become involved in the school’s transformation.
INTERVENTION:
When conflicts inevitably erupt, we offer two approaches that can resolve the issues and strengthen the lines of communication between disputing parties. During the Mediation process which is voluntary and confidential, participants work with a neutral mediator to identify issues and make decisions in a manner that reduces stress, fosters cooperation, and creates solutions that are fair and acceptable to all parties. It opens the door to better communication and improved relationships.
Peacemaking Circles are based on an assumption of positive potential. Circles also assume that by sharing diverse perspectives we can come closer to understanding the complete picture. Sharing individual perspectives, wisdom and experience creates a collective understanding that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Peacemaking Circles are used in schools to help create positive school climates and resolve behavior problems. They are also used in schools to deal with conflict among school members or families, especially when groups are involved.
Call 410-938-3927 for more information.