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This is our most demanding, yet incredibly rewarding volunteer opportunity.

 

Centinela Youth Services' (CYS) 30-hour Volunteer Mediation Training consists of basic mediation fundamentals with an emphasis on restorative justice principles. It will prepare you to become a highly-skilled volunteer community mediator in our Victim Offender Restitution Program (VORS). Subsequent training is available to become a mediator in our Family Mediation Program (FARS)

BECOME A CERTIFIED MEDIATOR

Resolve Disputes for your Community  •  Learn Great Skills  •  High Quality Training

 

!MUY IMPORTANTE!

NECESIDAD DE VOLUNTARIOS BILUNGUES

 

✓ Resolve Disputes for your Community

✓ Learn Great Skills

✓ High Quality Training

Profile and Expectations:

 

  • Strong verbal communication skills

  • Strong active listening skills

  • Sensible, compassionate, and empathetic

  • Ability to remain neutral and non-judgmental

  • Commit to conduct at least 24 mediations

  • Access to reliable transportation

  • Ability to clear our security background checks (Certifix Live Scan and LA County Probation Department clearance)

Huge Benefits:

 

  • One of the most substantive and rewarding volunteer opportunities available. You get to see the immediate impact on families and youth in crisis. 

  • Incredible skills that will make you more effective in both the workplace and interpersonal relationships. 

  • After completing 24 mediation sessions (which can include mediations in both the Family Mediation (FARS) and Victim/Offender Restitution (VORS) mediation programs) you will be a County certified mediator. 

Two Programs YOU Can Impact:

(Volunteer Application & Training information below)

Victim Offender Restitution Program (VORS)

 

The Victim Offender Mediation Program assists people who have been impacted by crime and the youth who caused the harm via a mediation process, with the opportunity for dialogue and reaching resolution through an agreement.

 

Mediations facilitated by trained community volunteers are held between the youth and the person who was harmed by their actions, which include private citizens, homeowners, teachers, local city governments, businesses and other youth.

 

Offenses include vandalism, theft, assault, shoplifting and other non-weapon related offenses. Most importantly, the program works to provide financial and psychological restitution for victims and relief for the overloaded Juvenile Justice system. Since 1992, 98% of the more than 5,000 Victim Offender mediations have reached agreements resulting in over $700,000 in restitution to victims, over 20,000 hours of community service performed and 3,920 letters of apology written by the youth offenders to their victim.

 

This process reduces re-arrest rates for participating youth to 8-11% within 1 year of completing the program and drastically increases service and reparation for victims.

Family Mediation Program

(FARS)

 

Family Mediation supports and assists youth and their parents/guardians to de-escalate conflict in a safe environment.

 

Family mediation examines conflict in the context of the family and empowers the parent and youth to own their conflicts and solutions. The program assists parties to manage and resolve specific issues such as curfew, chores, grades, trust, lack of communication etc.  The overall goal is to provide tools that families can use themselves in resolving their own disputes, outside the mediation room.

 

 

APPLY  TODAY!

Step 1:

Download and complete the CYS Volunteer Application.

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Step 2:

Submit the completed CYS application, along with your resume or bio, to [email protected]

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Step 3:

Once we receive your documents, we will call you in for an interview. If approved, you will complete additional CYS volunteer paperwork and required security clearances.

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Step 4:

You will be required to submit your payment at least one month prior to the applicable training session.

2023 Training Dates

NOTE: Due to Covid-19 considerations, all trainings are conducted ONLINE.

 

VORS Program Orientation, Skills & Process

Spring/Summer 2023 - 4 or 5 Day Orientation and Training

Specific Training Schedule TBD

 

FARS Program Orientation, Skills & Process

April 2023 - 4 or 5 Day Orientation and Training

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  FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS:

  • Friday, 4/14/23 - Foundations/Fundamentals

 

  TRAINING

  • Saturday, 4/15 - Day 1 - 8:30am-3:30pm

  • Friday 4/21 – Day 2 – 8:30am-3:30pm

  • Saturday 4/22 - Day 3 - 8:30am-3:30pm

  • Saturday 4/22 - FARS Evaluations – 8:30am-12:30pm

 

Contact [email protected] to get on the waiting list for the next training.

 

Training Location: ONLINE

 

Training Fee: $125 per program area (i.e. VORS, FARS)

(limited scholarships available)

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“Strengthening Families and Communities since 1975”
CONTACT US: (310) 970-7702, or [email protected]
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