Building the Peace: The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP).

The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP) is one of a growing number of grade K-12 violence prevention programs that teaches young people how to resolve conflict peacefully. It is a school-based program taught by regular classroom teachers. This report was designed to introduce criminal justice professionals to the basic concepts and strategies of violence prevention and to inspire their involvement in finding new ways to prevent violent crime among youth. RCCP includes elementary, secondary, and special education curriculums, a student-led mediation program, a parents' program, and an administrators' component. RCCP focuses on all students, not just high-risk youth. Teachers are given professional training and ongoing technical assistance and support throughout the school year. This paper describes the program's philosophy and details the 12 units in the elementary curriculum as well as the 3 unitss in the secondary program. Other areas discussed include professional training, the student mediation program, mediator selection and training, parent training, program costs, and evaluation results. The report closes with a special note for criminal justice professionals and the violence prevention movement. Community programs in four different locales are discussed. Addresses for further information are provided. (RJM)