What is Mend?
MEND - (Mediating Ends Negative Disagreements)
The MEND Approach has been in place in the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) for 4.5 years as a joint Youth Diversion Program (YDP) and LDSB project. The LDSB is committed to continuing with MEND which is now part of LDSB’s strategic plan as an approach to address school conflict.
The purpose of this project is to improve school engagement, attachment, and overall student success by providing an alternative disciplinary approach. All schools now have MEND trained staff who are taking a restorative, relationship-focused approach to resolving conflicts.
MEND Intervention specialists provide staff and student training, support, and educational workshops.
The MEND Approach
The MEND Approach requires the willing participation of all parties involved.
The MEND Approach focuses on repairing the harm caused and re-building relationships in contrast to traditional sanctions that focus on attaching blame and implementing consequences for inappropriate behaviour. It can also be used to complement other consequences.
The MEND Approach requires that the student is accountable for their behaviour. It focuses on repairing the harm created by their behaviour, directly involves those harmed by the behaviour, and seeks to address the needs of everyone involved.
MEND Process
The MEND Approach is based on Restorative best practices. The Restorative process of bringing people together when harm has been caused facilitates the acknowledgement of responsibility, strives to mend harm, and provides meaningful consequences; all solid components of a sound Character Education and /Safe Schools Approach. It has been proven that the restorative approach is more likely to instill a sense of empathy and understanding in the individuals who have caused harm and to provide greater closure for those who have been harmed.
MENDing Conversations
MEND staff training is ongoing. Currently over 1,200 LDSB staff are trained to facilitate MENDing Conversations.
When students are involved in a conflict, staff will help them to discuss this in a meaningful way. The focus of these conversations is not on who is to blame; but on how others have been harmed and what they need to feel better. The intent is to repair and improve relationships. The student who has caused the harm is supported to help “make things right”.
MENDing Circles
Over 300 LDSB staff are trained to co-facilitate MENDing Circles. Circles are used to resolve more deeply rooted, complex, and lengthy conflicts. MEND Intervention Specialists are readily available to work closely with trained staff and facilitate MENDing Circles.
Circles create a safe opportunity to repair any harm caused, and to provide students who have been harmed with the opportunity to voice their needs and have them met.
All those included in the MENDing Circle will have the opportunity to meet with the facilitators prior to the circle to clarify the process, express their needs and concerns, and help to prepare them to meet with others involved.
The focus of the circle is to actively work together to repair any harm and to positively resolve the issue(s).
MEND Student Workshops
As part of curriculum, MEND Intervention specialists conduct in-class student workshops upon request to help students understand and internalize core concepts such as Empathy, Perceptions, Collaborative Problem Solving, the impact of Bullying, and how students can work together to prevent social cruelty.
MEND Results
MEND is recognized as a valuable approach for improving school climate. MEND strategies assist students in building relationships and developing positive social skills.
LDSB staff report that the MEND Approach provides a consistent, user friendly way of resolving conflict, and improving communication. Students are empowered to work through their own issues and learn readily transferable skills in the process. Improved social skills and increased empathy, kindness and respect are direct outcomes of implementing a MEND approach. Communication improves, and positive relationships are developed.
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