Peer Mediation & Youth Programming

Whether a conflict is among peers at school, between the school and the student, or the conflict involves a young person and their family, Mediation Matters serves as a resource to help youth learn to solve their conflicts in a constructive way.

Peer Mediation At Schenectady High School

Peer Mediation

The goal of our Peer Mediation programming is to train and empower students to resolve interpersonal conflicts without violence and bullying. As peer mediators, students in our programs learn how to approach conflict constructively, practice active listening skills, and model this kind behavior in their community.

For school staff and the student body as a whole, our peer mediation programs provide outlets for students to resolve everyday conflicts constructively and helps create a culture where doing so is valued & expected. Overall, the programs help minimize the potential impact of conflict on the learning environment and ultimately contribute to reducing the need for disciplinary action.

Mediation Matters coordinates peer mediation programs at Schenectady High School and Mt. Pleasant Middle School.

For administrators and educators looking to implement a conflict resolution program at their schools, we have a network of facilitators that can train your students to become peer mediators. Throughout this process we can work with you to develop the capacity to manage a peer mediation program that will meet your school’s needs. To learn more about the different training services we offer, please visit the General Training Services page.

 

For more information about youth programming at Mediation Matters, contact Jim FitzGerald, Director of Services:

Mediation Services

Our staff and mediators have the capacity to mediate conflicts that occur in the lives of young people. These types of conflicts can include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Student/Teacher conflicts
  • Parent/Teacher conflicts
  • Conflicts between students
  • Issues involving attendance and absenteeism
  • Navigating conflicts arising from extended absences or disciplinary leave
  • Special education issues (for more information, please visit the Specialized Matters page)
  • Conflicts between students in their parents (for more information please visit the Family Mediation page)

 

Workshops & Trainings

General

If you are an educator or work /volunteer in a youth setting, Mediation Matters can facilitate conflict management workshops for students at multiple grade levels. These workshops exercises in these workshops are designed to provide engaging opportunities for young people to learn about the nature of conflict and develop strategies for approaching conflict in peaceful & respectful ways.

Examples topics these types of trainings cover include:  communication skills, bullying issues, leadership development, teamwork, group decision making, and more.

These trainings can happen on a contingent basis, be part of a series of workshops, or we could partner on more involved projects like facilitating focus groups and community conversations.

 

Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a cooperative and voluntary process that involves everyone affected by a crime or incident: the youth(s) responsible, the person(s) harmed, family members, and school faculty. These processes focus on repairing the harms caused and the needs of everyone involved. Restorative justice processes can come in many forms to fit the needs of the situation, such as mediation, conferencing, or talking circles.

We have often partner with local schools to facilitate restorative justice processes. If you believe you have a situation where restorative justice can be beneficial, or simply want to learn more about it, please contact us and we can talk about the possibilities in depth.

To learn more about the practice and the field and restorative justice practices, please visit Restorative Justice Online.