B.Project Phases
During the pilot project, the VMM project will be implemented in four primary phases or steps:
- Step One:
- The VMM Coordinating Board, comprised of representatives of the Partners in Youth Responsibility, will help Resolution Forum, Inc., the VMM Coordinator, recruit volunteer mentor/mediator team members from business, legal, medical, scientific, and educational communities and will collaborate in the development of curricula and training methodology for those volunteers.
- Step Two:
- The Highpoint East School staff, with the help of the VMM Instructors and HCDE staff, will identify the students who are to participate in the project and will work with the VMM Coordinator in arranging the meetings between the youth, their families, and the VMM Instructors and VMM Teams. During this phase, the youth and their families will be instructed in the effective use of Responsible Dispute Resolution strategies and will learn how to operate the MSN TV units for their online communications.
- Step Three:
- The VMM Coordinator will monitor and regularly circulate to the Coordinating Board Representatives the online session transcripts and reports of the VMM Teams. During this phase the representatives of the Coordinating Board will meet periodically with the VMM Teams to develop information required for the Project Evaluation and to deal with any particular problems that may develop.
- Step Four:
- At the end of the student sessions, the Coordinating Board will meet to discuss the results of the project and to consider ways to correct any program deficiencies. The Coordinating Board also will work cooperatively with HCDE and the Program Evaluator to develop a Project evaluation.
When the evaluation is complete, another round of student participation will begin which incorporates changes based on the previous session(s).
Volunteer Mediator-Mentor Program
