The ABCs of Settling Issues and Disputes Peacefully

There are many pressures facing students today from peers and parents to teachers and administrators.

The Center for Dispute Settlement (CDS) can help students parents, and school-district personnel develop the skills and tools they need to avoid disruptive conflicts and to positively effect situations where differing viewpoints are respected and constructively received including:

 

Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS)

  • Audience: Parents and guardians of children, ages 18 or younger, in which a custody or visitation issue exists.
  • Benefits: Avoid protracted custody battles while doing what’s best for the child(ren) involved; minimize court system involvement and save on legal costs.
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County and Wayne County offices); Livingston, Monroe and Steuben counties.

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Special Education Mediation

  • Audience: School districts that voluntarily decide to make mediation available to parents in order to improve communication and cooperation in matters related to special education programs and services.
  • Benefits: Improve effectiveness and results of school district special education programs.
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County and Wayne County offices); Livingston, Monroe and Steuben counties.

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Early Intervention Mediation

  • Audience: Either parent(s) or school district if there is a dispute regarding the services that a special-needs child is receiving, or the manner in which the Individual Education Plan (IEP) is being interpreted and fulfilled.
  • Benefits: Improve effectiveness and results of school district special education programs.
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County and Wayne County offices); Livingston, Monroe and Steuben counties.

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Peer Mediator Summits

  • Audience: Students and faculty/staff who will serve as mediators, along with adults who will coordinate the program, benefit from this program.
  • Benefits: Share information, receive in-service training on topics relevant to mediating and network with other students and staff from other school districts.
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates County offices); Livingston, Monroe, Cayuga and Steuben counties.

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Peer Mediation (elementary, middle and high schools)

  • Audience: Primary-school students, ages 6-18, who can act as peer mediators at their schools.
  • Benefits: Help resolve disputes among peers. Provides students with self-discipline, analytical and problem-solving and leadership skills.
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates County offices); Livingston, Monroe, Cayuga and Steuben counties.

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Developing 21st Century Problem Solvers

  • Audience: Primary-school students, ages 6-18.
  • Benefits: Provides basic training on such topics as anger management, conflict resolution and problem solving
  • Availability: The Finger Lakes Region (Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates County offices); Livingston, Monroe, Cayuga and Steuben counties.

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Rochester After School Academy (RASA)

  • Audience: Students enrolled in Wilson Magnet High School.
  • Benefits: Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, behavior modification and increased daytime school attendance.
  • Availability: City of Rochester's Wilson Magnet High School.

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Last updated: Monday, May 22, 2006