Mediation is a free, confidential, nonjudgmental, and voluntary process in which two neutral mediators assist participants, typically two or more persons in a dispute situation, to develop solutions to their conflict. The participants speak for themselves and make their own decisions. The mediators facilitate the exchange, neither taking sides nor suggesting or evaluating solutions.
CRCMC provides workshops on conflict management skills throughout Montgomery County. The workshops are designed for members of the Montgomery County community, service organizations, government agencies, and faith-based and nonprofit organizations.
● Skilled trainers conduct workshops ranging from one hour to one half day in length.
● Workshops are highly interactive, so that participants benefit from hands-on experiential learning.
● CRCMC provides an “off-the-shelf” conflict resolution course and tailors courses to meet the unique needs of the organization.
CRCMC also makes outreach presentations throughout the County to educate the community about our programs.
Based on the belief that positive conflict resolution should become a life-long competence, and research showing that schools that incorporated this approach became safer environments with improved achievement, CRCMC developed several programs for youth. The programs seek to address a continuum of intensity, from arguments to damaging conflicts.
In the past, we worked with schools on peer mediation programs. Presently we are focusing on community conferencing and dialogue circles.
COMMUNITY CONFERENCING
Community Conferencing is a program of restorative justice for youth. Referrals come from the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), police, and schools. CRCMC facilitates this process which invites participation by all the people affected by a conflict, including those who caused the harm, those directly affected by the harm, and others in the community affected by the conflict, such as parents, teachers, school staff members, or neighbors. All participants get a chance to speak. The goal is for all participants to understand what happened and why, to learn how everyone has been affected, and, when possible, to create an agreement that will repair the damage and prevent future harm. This process fosters understanding and respect between all participants.
DIALOGUE CIRCLES
Dialogue circles are open discussions where groups of 8 to 10 at risk students are encouraged by the CRCMC facilitator (called a “Keeper”) to discuss topics that allow the students to explore various conflict resolution strategies in a safe space. This unique opportunity to practice listening skills and respectful dialogue can address conflict before it rises to a level resulting in punitive measures; promote relationships among students and between students and their school; help the students recognize their own role in conflicts; and empower and inspire them to improve their conflict resolution skills. CRCMC also provides training and support to teachers who want to lead dialogue circles.
IN-SCHOOL MEDIATION
The In-School Mediation Program serves schools with students from low-income families and high-need students. CRCMC staff and volunteers are at the schools several days a week to provide on-site mediation and alternative dispute resolution services as conflicts arise. This allows students and school staff to address conflicts before they escalate and before students get expelled.
Requests are confidential and your participation is voluntary at every step of the process.
CRCMC provides education for new mediators in conjunction with Community Mediation Maryland and in collaboration with Montgomery College. Our basic training programs have included mediation, Spanish-language mediation, intake, and large group facilitation. CRCMC has also offered advanced training in parenting plan mediation, senior mediation, parent-teen mediations,
IEP (individualized education program) facilitation, community conferencing, dialogue circles, and other topics, in collaboration with CMM and other community mediation centers in Maryland. The courses are free to the participants. However, participants must agree to support the Center by volunteering to provide mediations or facilitations and by helping with other CRCMC activities. CRCMC also provides continuing education opportunities for all of its volunteers on a regular basis.
Based on the belief that positive conflict resolution should become a life-long competence, and research showing that schools that incorporated this approach became safer environments with improved achievement, CRCMC developed several programs for youth. The programs seek to address a continuum of intensity, from arguments to damaging conflicts. In the past, we worked with schools on peer mediation programs. Presently we are focusing on community conferencing and dialogue circles.
COMMUNITY CONFERENCING
Community Conferencing is a program of restorative justice for youth. Referrals come from the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), police, and schools. CRCMC facilitates this process which invites participation by all the people affected by a conflict, including those who caused the harm, those directly affected by the harm, and others in the community affected by the conflict, such as parents, teachers, school staff members, or neighbors. All participants get a chance to speak. The goal is for all participants to understand what happened and why, to learn how everyone has been affected, and, when possible, to create an agreement that will repair the damage and prevent future harm. This process fosters understanding and respect between all participants.
DIALOGUE CIRCLES
Dialogue circles are open discussions where groups of 8 to 10 at risk students are encouraged by the CRCMC facilitator (called a “Keeper”) to discuss topics that allow the students to explore various conflict resolution strategies in a safe space. This unique opportunity to practice listening skills and respectful dialogue can address conflict before it rises to a level resulting in punitive measures; promote relationships among students and between students and their school; help the students recognize their own role in conflicts; and empower and inspire them to improve their conflict resolution skills. CRCMC also provides training and support to teachers who want to lead dialogue circles.
IN-SCHOOL MEDIATION
The In-School Mediation Program serves schools with students from low-income families and high-need students. CRCMC staff and volunteers are at the schools several days a week to provide on-site mediation and alternative dispute resolution services as conflicts arise. This allows students and school staff to address conflicts before they escalate and before students get expelled.
Requests are confidential and your participation is voluntary at every step of the process.
Facilitation is a group process that allows people to work collaboratively to reach a solution through a participatory decision-making process. The CRCMC facilitator works as a neutral third party to facilitate a conversation between the participants in a safe environment.
He or she can identify the people and groups who need to be involved, assist in the plan and design of meetings, help the group identify important issues, encourage the exchange of information, and support participants in clarifying their goals and options so they can reach a consensus.
CRCMC volunteer facilitators respond to requests from communities, the Department of Parks and Planning, and other County agencies and groups who desire the assistance of neutral facilitators to help them work through problems facing their community. These meetings may include several different groups within the community and can extend over several months.
The benefits of facilitation include making everyone comfortable with participating, ensuring that all participants ideas are heard, resolving issues before positions become entrenched, enabling community members to find common ground, and allowing the group to take ownership of its decisions.
Requests are confidential and your participation is voluntary at every step of the process.
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We are open and are still helping our community in conflict. We are offering our services via Online Video Mediation. We currently can handle custody agreements/parenting plans, business and cutomer disputes, small claims, juvenile disputes, and landlord/tenant disagreements. All of these services are free and available to any member of the Montgomery County community. If you have any referrals, they can contact the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County by sending an email to mediation@crcmc.org or calling 301-652-0717. .