Community Mediation of St. Mary’s County is expanding its conflict-management programs, bringing peer mediation directly to students at Great Mills High School. This new initiative marks a significant expansion of the center’s efforts to provide conflict resolution resources to young people in the area.
“They took the initiative to start student-to-student peer mediation,” said Mia Bowers, executive director of Community Mediation of St. Mary’s. “We’re going to be in their school one day a week.”
The peer mediation program at Great Mills is part of the center’s broader outreach to students across St. Mary’s County, which has long provided services for students from kindergarten through their senior year, as well as to their parents. The center helps facilitate meetings for the development of individual education plans (IEP) and now offers on-site peer mediation at the high school.
Peer mediation allows students to help resolve conflicts among their peers in a peaceful, collaborative manner. Bowers explained that this program aims to reduce violence and promote understanding through a process of dialogue and problem-solving, engaging not just students, but also parents and teachers.
“Great Mills is excited to identify students for peer-to-peer mediation,” Bowers said. “We will also be training students to become mediators.”
Prior to the partnership with Great Mills High School, the center’s school-related mediation services were accessible primarily through referrals from parents or teachers. The decision by Great Mills’ administration to collaborate directly with the mediation center is seen as a proactive step in addressing conflict resolution needs within the school community.
Focus on Truancy and Attendance Mediation
Another essential service offered by Community Mediation of St. Mary’s is attendance mediation, which addresses the growing issue of truancy in schools. Attendance mediation aims to resolve the underlying causes of absenteeism by bringing together parents, students, and teachers to develop a plan to improve attendance.
As stated in a report by the Commission on the School-to-Prison Pipeline, mediation services like these are considered restorative interventions, helping prevent students from becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. Truancy is often an early indicator of academic and social struggles, and addressing it early on can help students avoid long-term negative outcomes, such as dropping out or becoming involved in criminal activity.
“Good attendance is critical to academic success, and students who are truant are more likely to drop out and become involved with the juvenile justice system,” Bowers explained.
During attendance mediations, families are informed about available resources that may help support students in overcoming the challenges that lead to absenteeism. This collaborative approach seeks to address complex, underlying issues that may contribute to poor attendance, helping students achieve better outcomes both academically and socially.
Partnerships and After-School Programs
Beyond peer mediation and attendance services, Community Mediation of St. Mary’s is also involved in after-school programs. In partnership with Pyramid Health Care’s youth community center, The Cove, the mediation center helps facilitate programs aimed at enrichment and support for students.
Programs like Pyramid’s PosiTeen and Building Bridges—a separate nonprofit organization—provide essential skills-building opportunities for young people, as well as homework assistance. The center’s involvement with these programs helps create a supportive environment for students both during and after school hours.
The mediation center’s services are not limited to students in public schools. Bowers noted that the center also offers support to home-schooled children and their families, underscoring its mission to provide mediation services and conflict-resolution education to all members of the community.
“It’s helping students learn how to deal with conflict and avoid it in the future,” Bowers said of the center’s efforts.
Expanding Mediation Services in the Community
Community Mediation of St. Mary’s has been active in the county for several years, providing free mediation services to individuals and organizations. The center’s mission is to empower people to resolve conflicts peacefully through open communication and collaboration.
The expansion of the center’s services into Great Mills High School is a significant development in its efforts to reach young people, providing them with the tools they need to manage and resolve conflicts constructively.
For more information about the center’s programs, including how to access its free mediation services or support its outreach efforts, visit CommunityMediationSMC.org or call 301-475-9118.
