Since it's inception in 1999,
CCC (Calgary Community
Conferencing) has been
focussed on responding to
harm committed by
adolescents. Within schools,
the initial focus was on junior
and senior high schools,
however as CCC has become
more widely known and
utilized within the Calgary
Board of Education, we have
received an increasing
number of referrals from
elementary schools. While
several of these referrals have
proceeded to a community
conference, it is
our experience
that the
considerations
and dynamics of
Inviting
Younger
children and
their families
into such a
process differ
From adolescents.
Community conferencing is
an intervention that focuses
on inclusion rather than
exclusion and builds
community around children.
We know when children have
a sense of belonging and are
valued members of their
communities, they are less
likely to be involved in
harmful activities when they
reach adolescence.
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Responding to the need to
develop more effective and
timely responses that address
issues of safety and conflict
in schools with children,
FCSS (Family and
Community Support
Services) became a funding
partner.
FCSS funding began in 2003
and the Elementary School
Pilot Project was born.
Through our work with
school communities in Area
V, we discovered that the
developmental needs of some
elementary students were
similarly
presented in older
students with
cognitive and/or
social/emotional
challenges. Not
all elementary
school children
require a radically
different
approach to how
we have typically
done conferencing.
At the same time, the
significance of support and
monitoring was highlighted
as we challenged elementary
students to accept
responsibility for their
behaviour, develop empathy
for those they have harmed,
and be accountable to others.
Another key ingredient
identified through the FCSS
Elementary School Pilot
Project is the importance of
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establishing a much closer
working relationship with
parents of children being
referred. With older students
we do most of the work with
them alone after meeting
with them and their parents.
We are finding with younger
children there is a much
greater need to maintain
regular contact with parents
throughout the process.
CCC continues to provide
support to all children and
families served by the
Calgary Board of Education
with ongoing funding
through FCSS. From the
perspective of crime
prevention, we know that
addressing the child and
family together within the
context of their community is
the most effective means of
addressing the root causes or
risk factors associated with
crime and victimization.
While age is an important
indicator for program
approach, FCSS funding has
encouraged CCC to more
deliberately identify the
developmental needs of all
children referred, beyond the
simple factor of
chronological age.
Consultation is offered to
school and system
administrators following
school-based incidents.
Continued on page 4
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT AND FCSS