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North Star Youth Mediation Program |
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An Alternative Approach to Conflict Resolution |
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What is the North Star Youth Mediation Program? |
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North Star Youth Mediation Program began in 2001 with victim-offender mediation to address criminal cases and to accept referrals from juvenile justice authorities. However, as the program developed, it became clear that many conflicts involving youth could be successfully co-mediated by a trained youth and an experienced adult. NSYC Mediation Program is now accepting referrals for parent-teen and peer mediations from other agencies and from private individuals. At least one participant must be a youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years. Mediation at all stages is voluntary and confidential. |
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To contact us: |
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800 Cushman St., Suite 101 P.O. Box 82147 Fairbanks, AK 99708 Phone: (907) 457-6792 Fax: (907) 457-6791 E-mail: nsycmed@mosquitonet.com
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What types of Mediation are offered? |
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Victim-Offender Mediation is based on the philosophy of “Restorative Justice,” the purposes of which are to put key decisions into the hands of those most affected by crime, to make justice more healing and transformative and to reduce the likelihood of further offenses. The desired outcome of mediation is to increase juvenile offender accountability and to repair the harm of the offense, both physically and emotionally, providing closure for all parties and a strengthened community. Parent-Teen Mediation facilitates a productive conversation between family members in an attempt to promote understanding and develop communication skills that will result in resolution of conflict. Parent-Teen mediation emphasizes the importance of listening and being heard on equal footing with balanced and fair negotiations. This program is designed to create a private way for family members to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings about issues that concern them and to find common ground. Peer Mediation involves youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years who are in conflict or who have a disagreement. They both must desire to work out the problem between them, be willing to understand and respect their individual differences, and be willing to change the way they currently relate to each other. Mediation focuses on identifying issues behind the conflict. After mutually sharing their stories and being understood, the youth create options for mutual gain and choose a win-win solution. |
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How can I make a referral to the Mediation Program? |
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To make a referral to the Mediation Program, please complete a referral form and send it to the mediation advisor along with any documents that would provide additional background information. Referral forms can also be downloaded from the NSYMP website HERE. All referrals and related documents are confidential, and personal documents will be returned.
Not all cases are appropriate for youth mediation. Each case is screened by the mediation advisor. If accepted, each party attends a pre-mediation conference with the co-mediators, and if appropriate, one or more joint sessions are held. A $25.00 service fee is due at the time of the referral. Waiver or reduction of the service fee will be considered upon request. Please call (907) 457-6798 if you have questions about the program and the referral process. Betty Noreen, Mediation Advisor, nsycmed@mosquitonet.com
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What are the goals of the Mediation Program? |
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GOALS: · To model good communication and conflict resolution skills with courtesy and respect. · To demonstrate that conflict exists universally and can have positive outcomes. · To teach the critical life-skill of how to resolve further conflict constructively. · To identify and focus on the underlying needs expressed in actions or positions. Conflict happens when our basic needs are threatened: physical (including safety) and psychological (including belonging, self-esteem, enjoyment, having choices). · To gain an understanding and appreciation of our differences and to identify similarities. · To learn something new about the other person and develop empathy and closeness. · To come to mutual agreement on how to resolve a conflict or repair a harm. Parties who are disputing often have a negative concept of conflict. They may feel shame and have difficulty admitting that conflict exists. They may resist taking responsibility and avoid being confronted. Too often parties consider mediation only as a last resort to conflict resolution. To overcome these difficulties, North Star Youth Mediation Program is designed to help parties feel comfortable and welcome, with food and smiles. All mediations are co-facilitated by an adult mediator and a youth mediator to bring both perspectives into the process. Mediators build a sense of safety with assurances of confidentiality. They remain neutral and present impartially, drawing upon the existing goodwill between the parties, which may include their mutual desire to work things out. Mediators help to reframe comments, ensuring that parties attack issues and not each other. They acknowledge feelings as valid, but distinguish between feelings and issues. They encourage parties to avoid words that are judgmental or interpretive. Mediators resist the desire to reach agreements quickly that would be superficial, but they take care to ensure that agreements are voluntary, workable and balanced. Mediators are aware of their biases and will withdraw from mediation if they feel conflicted in any individual case. |
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How can I help out and volunteer? |
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North Star Youth Mediation Program is pleased to announce mediation training for youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years at no cost and for adults on a space-available basis at a cost of $100 per session. Mediation training teaches critical skills in communication and conflict resolution. The training will be held at Lathrop High School, 901 Airport Way. Students need to provide their own transportation. Curriculum materials and refreshments for break times will be provided
Youth who successfully complete the Basic Mediation Training may become members of the NSYMP Mediator Corps. With an experienced adult mediator, these youth may co-facilitate Victim-Offender Mediation and Peer Mediation cases involving youth as offenders or in other disputes. Mediation helps youth offenders realize the impact of their behavior by holding them directly accountable to their victims. Victims are given the opportunity to experience closure by asking questions about the crime and giving input for repairing the harm. Peer mediation gives youth an opportunity to address issues underlying the conflict between them to promote mutual understanding and agreements for win-win resolutions.
REGISTRATION FORMS: Students can sign up here and adults can sign up here. Registration may be faxed; however, the originals must be submitted no later than the first class meeting.
See our Current Events & Training page for more details. |
