Youth Development Conflict Resolution Training for At-Risk Youths

The primary beneficiaries of our dispute resolution training program are the children. Secondary beneficiaries are the parent(s) of the children, their siblings and school mates. A future beneficiary is the society at large as the children mature and become part of the community.

Development of the program was completed in 2019 by Ron Fredey, M.A., Program Coordinator of the Greater Brockton Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc. under a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, a State Agency in Massachusetts. Administration of the Program will be performed by the Executive Director of the Children's Learning Express Center in West Bridgewater, MA. The actual training will be delivered by an employee of Children's Express who a trained mediator with a B.S. in psychology. Oversight of the program will be done by Ron Fredey with additional project review from the Mass Office of Public Collaboration.

Training will be provided to children ages 5 - 10 years old with age specific activities 3 times a week for at least 15 minutes. Activities include conflict resolution role plays, discussions, games & conflict resolution puppets. Some of the tools used are activity jars filled with items for discussion including jars called temper tamers and choices. Additionally, a primer on conflict was developed by Ron Fredey and a pdf uploaded as part of this application.

The kickoff of the program will begin with a notification letter to parents to let them know that conflict resolution training will be included in the after-school curriculum. We will also do a periodic follow up survey with parents to gather their input as to whether they've noticed behavioral changes in their child around the area of conflict resolution. The surveys will be analyzed and results shared with Board members and funders. The Dispute Resolution Coordinator will meet with the trainer at Children's Express once a week to gather data and discuss program targets and, if necessary, make adjustments.

The requested funds will be used to offset the time and travel of the Dispute Resolution Coordinator of the Greater Brockton Center for Dispute Resolution.

The project is scaleable, portable and contains all of the necessary tools to effectively carry out the required training.

The requested $ 2500.00 represents 25% of the overall program budget; the remaining 75% will be funded from other sources or with in-kind donations.