108 Cherry Street
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
tel: (802) 748-2977
fax: (802) 748-3146

TRAINING CALENDAR

Mediator
TBD

Group Conference Facilitator
TBD

COSA Member
TBD

TRAINING

From time to time the St. Johnsbury Community Justice Center sponsors conflict resolution training for individuals who want to volunteer in its programs or just learn the techniques. Training is usually free for Justice Center volunteers but carries an obligation to volunteer once trained.

Training is offered in the following areas:

Reparative Board Member - This is a Vermont Department of Corrections training given in a single day-long session or two evening sessions. Successful completion makes an individual eligible to be a Reparative Board member anywhere in the State of Vermont, subject to acceptance by the local program administering the Boards.

Group Conference Facilitator - This training qualifies participants to lead or co-lead group conferences, subject to acceptance by the Justice Center. The training we use is based on the Real Justice facilitation model and is a one-day training, with required background reading prior to the training for those not versed in restorative justice principles.

Mediator - This two-day training gives participants basic mediation skills and knowledge and qualifies them to serve as a co-mediator, subject to acceptance by the Community Justice Center. Completion of a full mediation training program or acquisition of significant mediation experience and documentation that an individual is fully qualified is necessary to apply for assignment as a sole mediator.

COSA Member - This six hour training, spread over three evenings, prepares citizens to become members of a "Circle of support and accountability." This is a group of 3 - 5 individuals who provide an offender reentering the community with an immediate social support circle of functional people. Once trained, COSA members are ready for assignment to a circle for a specific offender. Once this happens a COSA member may do things like provide rides to doctor appointmants, assist in finding housing or employment, help set uphousekeeping and generally mentor the "core member (reentering offender). In many ways a COSA functions as a family member or friend might in helping someone they care about move beyond an incapacitating life crisis.