ABA PROJECT
OUT-REACH
Supporting School Mediation
A Joint Project of The American Bar
Association's
Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section,
Section of Dispute Resolution
and Young Lawyers Division
The Reason to Act...
More students are experiencing violence in
their schools every day. If two high school students stand toe-to-toe in a crowded
hallway ready to explode in conflict, is violence inevitable? There is a peaceful
alternative.
The Action to Take...
Start ABA Project Out-Reach in your
community's schools.
Peer mediation is a proven effective conflict
prevention and resolution device, in which a team of two student-mediators assists
disputants in identifying solutions to their conflicts. A peer mediator maintains
confidentiality and does not judge or create solutions
In Project Out-Reach, each of the three ABA
entities designates lawyers to work in teams to implement new or enhance existing
school-based peer mediation programs. The lawyers agree to help the designated
school for at least a full year.
For each project, teams of three attorneys are
trained in mediation techniques, the components of a school-based mediation program,
establishing a school mediation program, reaching out to the community, working with
existing programs, and promoting the idea to parents and school officials.
Project Out-Reach lawyers can assist school
administrators with implementation decisions, provide sample forms to adapt or adopt,
conduct training and follow-up meetings, act as a resource if schools have questions or
concerns, provide materials to facilitate the orderly running of the program, and assist
in coordination of the advertising and publicizing of the program.
The project allows lawyers to use their legal
training, community organizing skills, contacts, and their dispute resolution experience.
In the process, the workload of principals and counselors involved with
disciplinary actions is reduced. It's a win-win situation.
The Time to Act...
Schools usually work on a semester basis with
Fall and Spring semesters as the best times to begin any new project. To implement
Project Out-Reach in the Fall, begin planning and organizing in the Spring or early
Summer.
The Steps to
Making a Difference
With Project Out-Reach
Gain the Principal's support;
Train a core group of faculty,
administrator, student, community and parent supporters;
Make the program known to the faculty,
students, parents and community leaders;
Select the Conflict Managers;
Determine the scope of the program and the
intake and referral process;
Train the Conflict Managers and conduct
graduation ceremonies;
Begin mediation, monitor progress, debrief
performance with Conflict Managers and retrain, celebrate success;
Involve the Community
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For more information about ABA
Project Out-Reach contact Sonia Schroeder at schroeders@staff.abanet.org
or by phone at 312/988-6229.
TIPS LEGAL
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