Community Conferencing

community conference graphic
Picture used with permission from Restorative Response Baltimore

 

Community Conferencing

Community Conferencing is a facilitated process that allows schools, neighborhoods, government agencies, faith communities, organizations and families to respond to destructive behavior in constructive way. 

Community Conferencing provides all participants who are involved in and affected by a conflict or crime, a safe and structured space to resolve the matter safely and effectively.

How it works:

  • Participants discuss what happened
  • Everyone gets to talk about how they have been affected
  • Everyone decides how to resolve things
  • An agreement is created to repair any harm and prevent the incident from happening again
  • Held at a convenient time and location
  • Led by a trained, neutral facilitator
  • Confidential
  • Scheduled shortly after the incident

Uses:

  • Alternative to school suspension and arrest
  • Student-student / teacher-student incidents
  • Fights/Assaults
  • Gossiping/Bullying
  • Vandalism
  • Theft/Shoplifting
  • Neighborhood conflicts that spill into the school environment
  • Trespassing

Impact:

  • Everyone gets to speak
  • Youth are held accountable directly to those who have been harmed
  • Victims are directly involved in deciding the outcome
  • Reduces suspension and arrests
  • Prevents re-occurrences and entry into criminal justice system
  • Gossiping and bullying get addressed before escalating further
  • Relationships among students, families, and school staff improve
  • Everyone has an opportunity to learn and heal from the incident

Request a Community Conference

To request services you may call us at 301-539-4689, email mediation@csmd.edu, or submit a request below.

Contact Us

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Email mediation@csmd.edu

Julie A. Walton
Director
301-539-4683

Lauretta Miles
Program Specialist
301-539-4689


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