There has been an increasing trend toward violence in our society. Unsurprisingly, incidents of violence among youth have reached alarming proportions and have extended to all areas of life. In the local neighborhoods, playgrounds, recreation centers, schools and through the areas of transition that are negotiated daily, acts of violence are becoming commonplace. Many youth appear unprepared to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.

While conflicts are everywhere and an inevitable part of life, violence is unacceptable. Managing conflict in a productive manner requires being able to see conflict as an opportunity for creative change, self-awareness and growth. It is our belief that conflict management education and training provide the knowledge and skills needed to resolve the conflicts that arise without resorting to violence.

The mission of this project includes a commitment to peace and the productive management of conflict. This workshop has been specifically designed to educate the participants about violence and help them to develop practical skills. The use of role-plays apply conflict resolution/violence prevention measures to help participants come to a new awareness of the dynamics involved in a more effective and productive approach to managing conflicts in the future.

About the Workshop
The Good Shepherd Mediation Program (GSMP) and the Office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia believe that first-time offenders can benefit from training that teaches them different ways to resolve conflict.

In accordance with restorative justice principles, this program will give its participants the opportunity to (1) be held accountable for and modify their behavior, (2) give back to their community through supervised service at local organizations, and (3) have their arrest record expunged. This project was created in partnership with Youth Aid Panel. Its intent is for the panelists to recommend juvenile offenders who would benefit from the workshop.

Purpose
This workshop offers communication, conflict resolution, anger management, and decision-making skills. These strategies and techniques can be used in day-to-day life, not just at school or in the workshop.

GSMP's conflict resolution process is used as a structure for resolving conflicts. One technique used in the training is a short role-play. The role-play imitates real-life conflict situations where participants practice the skills they have learned throughout the day.

Benefits of the Conflict Resolution Workshop:

• Demonstrates the interrelationship between conflict, anger and violence.
• Utilizes techniques in anger management and peaceful alternatives.
• Offers participants conflict resolution skills to productively manage interpersonal conflicts that might otherwise result in violence.
• Teaches how to communicate effectively when negative feelings are present.

Benefits of the Retail Theft Diversion Workshop:

• Utilizes story telling.
• Examines how personal and social pressures can trigger shoplifting
• Explores the personal hardships that shoplifters face in their lives (e.g., embarrassment, guilt, shame).
• Teaches about shoplifting laws and their consequences.
• Discusses the inherent risks in retail theft (e.g., new security technology, shoplifting addiction).
• Teaches how retail theft affects the lives of people (not just stores).
• Helps participants develop a plan to stop shoplifting.

Benefits of Both Workshops

• Provide a two-month follow-up for each youth
• Send each youth the "Peace Pledge" postcard, a follow-up reminder written at the Workshop.
• Use an interactive process so that participants can apply these skills to personal situations.
• Focus on positive goal setting and its benefit for making healthy decisions.

Who can come?
First-time juvenile summary offenders and those referred to GSMP by Youth Aid Panel may attend. Most of the participants who attend the workshop have been charged with offenses such as retail theft, assault, weapons, disorderly conduct or underage drinking. Note: Although a youth's arrest record will be expunged for underage drinking, his/her driving license will still be suspended.

Youth Aid Panel Referral Process
Workshop referral forms are available through the District Attorney's office and GSMP. After including the workshop in the youth's contract, fill out the referral form and explain to the youth that he/she must call GSMP to schedule a workshop training date.

The workshops are held on Saturdays at Good Shepherd Mediation Center. Registration starts at 8:45 a.m. The workshop starts promptly at 9:00 a.m. No one will be admitted after 9:05 a.m. Youth Aid Panel participants are dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Participants should bring a lunch.

For more information please contact Good Shepherd's Summary Offender Diversion Program at (215) 843-5413