What is the most fundamental aspect of being human? Communication

Peer Mediation – Conflict Resolution in Schools Powerpoint Templates

threats prejudice disputes rumors intolerance gossip aggression anger violence conflict

Today’s Objectives Exposure to research surrounding the impact of peer influence. Gain an understanding of how mediation programs effect the school climate. Introduction to and practice of the basic steps & skills involved in conflict resolution.

Multiple program descriptions: Value education Violence prevention programs Anti-bullying programs Citizenship education Peace education Social-emotional learning

Playground Peacemaker (Farrington, 2002)

Definition: Peer Mediation Peer mediation is a negotiation-based strategy that teaches students mediators alternative strategies to help resolve conflict among their peers. They are trained to apply conflict management strategies to assist their peers in settling disputes.

Why Peer Helping? Research has identified 40 factors, which are called developmental assets, that are critical for young people’s healthy development and well-being. Peer helping is a concrete and proven strategy that focuses on the heart of asset building: relationships. It equips young people (as well as others) with basic skills to offer caring, support, and guidance (Roehlkepartain, 1996). The Search Institute indicated that youth (grades 6-12) who engaged in projects and programs to help others on a weekly basis were less likely to report at-risk behaviors (Benson, 1990).

Adding a well-designed peer or cross-age teaching component to an elementary or secondary school program has the potential for significantly augmenting the school capability to promote academic achievement and interpersonal growth (Hedin, 1987). When students used a peer mediation process to solve conflicts, they scored higher on the Piers Harris Children’s Self Concept Scale and the Brown and Hammill Behavior Rating Profile for Students than those students using non-peer mediation (Anticoli, 1997). Peer mediation programs modified youths’ self-reported attitudes about violent behavior, improved school discipline, and reduced absenteeism (Powell, Muir-McClain & Halasyamani, 1996).

Emotional growth can be promoted through appropriate peer tutor Emotional growth can be promoted through appropriate peer tutor training and experience as a tutor at the elementary level (Foster, 1991). With well-defined training, peer helpers can learn lifelong skills. Once peer helpers learn to teach model positive health behaviors, they may continue beyond the program and generalize what they learned to new situations (Finn, 1981). Peer leaders offer several benefits including an enhanced ability to model appropriate behaviors outside the classroom and greater social credibility among students (Doi & DiLorenzo, 1993; Katz, Robishch, & Telch, 1989).

What other research says… The spread of peer mediation programs around the country has outpaced research on its effects. As a result, there is much we still need to know about the effectiveness of peer mediation. Empirically evaluated?

“Literature has been uncritical in its examination of potential negative side effects.” (Lewis & Lewis, 1996) No body of evidence documenting the effectiveness, or safety of using peer helping programs to address problems beyond the basic academic and development issues they were intended to address.

National Association of Peer Program Professionals NAPPP Programmatic Standards Checklist Scoring Rubric

The importance of… WHEREAS, more than 34,000 suicides occurred in the U.S in 2009, with suicide being the 11th leading cause of death for all Americans, the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds, and the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year olds, and WHEREAS, in 2009, 13.8% of students in grades 9-12 seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months (17.4% of females and 10.5% of males). WHEREAS, peers are often the first to know of someone considering suicide and referral skills are vital to such life threatening issues,

WHEREAS, studies have shown that peer programs have been found to be one of the most proven and effective prevention and intervention strategies for persons exhibiting suicidal ideations, and WHEREAS, the Mission of the National Association of Peer Program Professionals (NAPPP) is to help adults establish, train, supervise, and evaluate peer programs, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NAPPP encourages peer program professionals to establish awareness, preventive, and responsive strategies to suicidal ideations through their peer programs that follow NAPPP Programmatic Standards and Ethics.

Reasons for concern or attention: Younger & younger adolescents are being trained to address increasingly serious problems. Little information on the nature of the problems peer helpers confront. Type and level of supervision & support peer helpers receive. Lack of documentation of the overall effectiveness of programs they serve. (Lewis & Lewis, 1996)

Conflict Resolution Education A guide to implementing programs in schools, youth-serving organizations and community and juvenile justice settings. U.S. Dept. of Justice and U.S. Dept of Education (1996)

6 steps towards mediation Conflict Resolution TIPS VIDEO: Peer Mediation Conflict Resolution in Schools 6 steps towards mediation

Takeaways? School Counselors should be caution when initiating new peer assistance programs. Carefully scrutinize efforts to initiate programs without counselor involvement. Caution when transferring programs to professionals without counseling expertise.

Limit helper roles to academic and developmental issues. Ensure helpers receive adequate training and supervision. Carefully review process for selecting peer helpers.

Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center Up next: Applying conflict resolution principles to work with youth & intervening in conflicts in the school with students and their families.

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