Learning Opportunities

This 3 day workshop is geared to those interested in learning more about a transformative, collaborative approach to resolving conflict and attendance concerns.                             

Community Conferencing is a restorative process where a person or persons who have caused harm is provided the opportunity to take responsibility and be directly accountable to those harmed through a facilitated face-to-face meeting. Those who have been harmed have an opportunity to express how they have been impacted and a direct say in how the harm can be repaired. Community Conferencing provides an opportunity for reintegration of the person(s) causing harm and those harmed, back into the classroom and school. In cases where attendance is the presenting concern, the harm looks a bit different but the process remains the same with all parties involved having a chance to talk about what is happening, how they are impacted and how to move forward in a better way.

This is a process that effectively supports principles of respect, responsibility, accountability and empathy.  It also supports changes to Alberta’s Education Act which require boards to provide support for students who engage in inappropriate behaviour as well for those who are impacted by it. In a supportive process, students are able to take responsibility for behaviors and contribute in a meaningful way to the resolution.  Students who have been harmed are also able to contribute to the outcome.  Parents and supporters are invited to participate and are able to express how they have been impacted as well as have a voice in the outcome. 

This training will result in participants gaining a thorough understanding of the philosophy and theory behind restorative practice and the community conferencing process, the actual process and the skills involved in facilitating a conference for attendance concerns as well as conflict. Opportunities to participate in and facilitate mock conferences will be part of this training.