North Quabbin Youth Violence Prevention

Quabbin Mediation Inc. will provide peer mediation and conflict resolution in addition to teacher and parent training through the Students Teaching Students (STS) program. STS serves youth in the North Quabbin region of rural north central Massachusetts through a social-cognitive violence prevention intervention designed to promote social competence through positive communication skills and peer relationships. Expected outcomes include: increase in students' connection to their schools, in their sense of responsibility for other people, in their sense of competence to help, in their sense of self-efficacy, in students' predisposition as bystanders to safely take a stand against violence, and in students' conflict de-escalation and conflict resolution skills. An independent university evaluator will measure progress through pre- and post-project questionnaires, interviews, and assessment of data on truancy and disciplinary actions. Quabbin Mediation Inc. will report on these measures to OJJDP in the grantee's Categorical Assistance Progress Reports.NCA/NCF