Educational Alternative
Resolution Services (EARS)





There is often the need for confidential mediation and resolution services provided by an impartial party in educational, workplace and law enforcement settings. D-Prep’s team of alternative resolution staff bring with them deep experience in mediation, counseling, threat assessment, conflict resolution, interpersonal group dynamics, leadership, and supervision.
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Another option to resolve a Title IX complaint beyond a formal process conducted at our college, university, school, or student work study/internship site
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Help for small departments or businesses with staff grievances or complaints against supervisors
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Guidance when tensions arise between a law enforcement office and the community they serve
Our multi-disciplinary team provides timely, effect and culturally competent resolutions to staff and student concerns through a process tailored to the unique needs presented by each case. We have found flexibility and the careful assignment of team members to match the needs of scenarios critical to successful resolution.
Common Types of Alternative Resolution Requests:
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Interpersonal conflict impacting workplace and educational settings
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Sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, and assault cases
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Discrimination claims related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability
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Tensions between a supervisee and their supervisor
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Claims by interns or pre/post doctoral staff and faculty, department, or supervisor
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Concerns that have been resistant to traditional human resource or formal resolution proceedings
Phase One: Initial Inquiry
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Contact us using the form below or email Brian Van Brunt
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Meet via zoom to discuss the request and develop a timeline, scope, confidentiality expectations and goals
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Select D-Prep staff for this engagement
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Receive proposal and agreement for services
Phase Two: Information Gathering
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Zoom meetings with individuals involved in the alternative resolution and a D-Prep staff member to gather information and determine what they are looking for out of the agreement
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D-Prep staff meeting to discuss assess next steps and additional information needed
Phase Three: Agreement Development
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D-Prep staff meet and discuss the development of the alternative resolution agreement based on individual staff interviews
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Completion of draft agreement
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Draft agreement reviewed by school, university, department, or workplace
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Updated changes based on referral feedback
Phase Four: Agreement Completion
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Agreement sent to parties involved for their review
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Schedule joint mediation meeting between parties where appropriate
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Zoom meetings with individuals involved in the alternative resolution and a D-Prep staff member to discuss their comments and additions to the alternative resolution document
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Agreement updated based on feedback and finalized
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Signatures from those involved on final agreement
Pricing:
There are several factors that impact pricing, including
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The complexity of the case and the number of parties involved
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The speed at which the process needs to begin and reach resolution
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Previous and future work agreements between D-Prep and the referral sources (e.g., retainers or other services between the referral source and D-Prep)
Our hourly rate is $250 and most resolution processes are completed between $3000–$6500, depending the variables mentioned above.
Our Team
Part of our commitment to forming the EARS group is to offer flexible and affordable alternatives to formal and lengthy resolution processes. With content experts in sexual assault, FERPA/HIPAA, law enforcement policy, CARE/BIT, mental illness, human resources, disability accommodations, trauma-informed care, and diversity, equity and inclusion, we want to ensure each case we take has the right resources, planning and process to lead to a successful outcome for all involved.

As an internationally recognized expert in behavioral intervention, threat assessment and mental illness, and instructional design, Brian (he/him/his) will bring you the information you need to better protect your school environment from harm. Author of over a dozen books, Brian has spent time as child and family therapist, university professor and a partner at a violence and sexual assault prevention law firm. He currently serves as the director of behavior and threat management at D-Prep and the lead consultant and content expert for Looking Glass Consulting and Design and InterACTT.

David worked in higher education and college counseling over the past several decades and is director emeritus of counseling services at Southern Connecticut State University. David is a master trainer of Question Persuade Refer (QPR) and was the key person in bringing the QPR model to the state university system in Connecticut. A certified clinical trauma professional, David is also a Red Cross mental health first responder and is the mental health lead for the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. As such, he has assisted with relief efforts for hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey as well as provided mental health support at the Sandy Hook and Las Vegas shootings.

Tammy has been working in the diversity, equity, and inclusion field for most of her professional career. Being biracial and reared in the Midwest, Tammy learned early on that race, although a social construct, impacts life chances and experiences. She has the lived experience of being both European American and African American. Coming from a middle-class family and being reared in a predominantly white space provided her opportunities she would later learn were not available to everyone that presented/looked like her. She has written peer-review articles about the experiences of minorities in academia.

Robert is a licensed psychotherapist in California and Arizona, as well as a consultant and trainer throughout the United States. He has served in many clinical and leadership roles over the past 25 years, working in university, community mental health, forensic and private practice settings. Robert is well-known for his work as a trainer and consultant in assisting schools/ universities and communities respond to major crisis events like wildfires, mass shootings, deaths of students/ employees and responding to sexual and other types of interpersonal violence. Trained in group and individual critical incident debriefing, Robert is often invited into communities after acts of violence and other traumatic events to help leaders and community members process and cope with extraordinarily difficult events. He serves as the clinical supervisor for the Route 91 So Cal Heals project, https://giveanhour.org/route91/, which provides case management, peer support and support group care for survivors and family members impacted by the Las Vegas and Borderline Nightclub mass shootings.

Jacques Whitfield is a seasoned Human Resources Executive with over 20 years of experience in human resources management. Whitfield recently completed a six year tenure as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Yuba Community College District. Whitfield was responsible for the management and oversight of the human resources operations for the district and is credited with revitalizing and streamlining the Human Resource Operations for the Yuba Community College District. Whitfield is a subject matter expert in performance management, employee engagement and state and federal EEO compliance matters. He is highly accomplished in successfully working with others to develop professional skills and improve employee effectiveness through training and development.

Nina Delgadillo is a retired Senior Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, having 25 years of distinguished service, holding top secret clearance, and earning title of Senior Special Agent. Nina is a certified master instructor for ATF at the National Academy in Glynco, GA. There, she instructed courses on explosives investigation, undercover investigation (basic and advanced), interviewing, and train the trainer. Nina conducted complex firearms, narcotics, explosive, and arson investigations, domestic and international terrorism investigations, and undercover investigations.

Poppy Fitch is a higher education Student Affairs administrator and counselor who has served students and developed strengths-focused teams in San Diego area community college and university settings for more than 25 years. Poppy currently serves as the Director for Disability Support Programs and Services, San Diego Community College District in support of the educational access and success of students with disabilities.

Amy serves as an associate professor of student development and higher education leadership at Angelo State University. She is also the program coordinator for the M.Ed. in student development and leadership in higher education as well as the graduate certificate in academic advising, both fully online programs. Amy has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and student affairs. She is formerly the dean of students and managing director of the Center for Campus Life at Texas Tech University. Her experiences include chair of the school’s behavioral intervention team, oversight of prevention and response activities for gender-based violence and discrimination as the deputy Title IX coordinator for students, as well as administrative involvement in student conduct, disability services, counseling, and enrollment management.

Chris, a 30-year veteran of higher education, serves as the dean of students and chief student affairs officer at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where he has responsibility for counseling and wellness, student advocacy, student union and programs, recreational sports, residence life, and student conduct. He also chairs the university CARE and threat team. He has served on the leadership team for the Association of Student Conduct Administrators, and has been a member of NASPA, ACPA, ACUHO-I, and the American Men's Studies Association. He is a trained Title IX adjudicator and has also worked with D Stafford and Associates as a national Clery Act consultant. Chris serves as the executive director