What is Mediation?
- Mediation is a conflict resolution process in which mediators help participants have difficult conversations.
- Mediators do not decide who is right or wrong, take sides, counsel, or give advice.
- Mediators help participants communicate and empower them to create their own solutions.
- In mediation, people speak for themselves and make their own decisions.
What Services Does CMCSMC offer?
Community Mediation
Mediators assist individuals with a wide range of conflicts, including family and neighborhood conflicts, landlord-tenant issues, and organizational issues.
Prisoner Re-entry
Many SMC inmates are faced with challenges that can be addressed prior. If the inmate can have a conversation with relatives or friends to address those challenges, transition back into society may go more smoothly for everyone.
Parent-Teen Mediation
Mediators help parents and teens talk together to create their own solutions. Some parent/teen issues that have been discussed in mediation include communication, school struggles, and dating problems.
Separation and Divorce Mediations
Mediators help parents develop plans for child care and custody following separation.
Organizational Development
In addition to offering free mediation services, the Center also offers facilitation services to businesses, organizations and agencies to help them build stronger teams and work together more effectively.
Mediators assist individuals with a wide range of conflicts, including family and neighborhood conflicts, landlord-tenant issues, and organizational issues.
Prisoner Re-entry
Many SMC inmates are faced with challenges that can be addressed prior. If the inmate can have a conversation with relatives or friends to address those challenges, transition back into society may go more smoothly for everyone.
Parent-Teen Mediation
Mediators help parents and teens talk together to create their own solutions. Some parent/teen issues that have been discussed in mediation include communication, school struggles, and dating problems.
Separation and Divorce Mediations
Mediators help parents develop plans for child care and custody following separation.
Organizational Development
In addition to offering free mediation services, the Center also offers facilitation services to businesses, organizations and agencies to help them build stronger teams and work together more effectively.
So How Does Mediation Work?
- Mediation is a resource to end conflict, and it is also a means to prevent conflict.
- Mediation is way for people to have difficult conversations with the help of a highly trained neutral mediator, with the possibility of resolving disputes.
- Mediation brings people together in a safe setting.
- In mediation, the participants make their own decisions
- Mediation is a 100% voluntary process.
The Role of a Mediator
The mediator’s role is to help participants clarify their needs, which enables the parties work out their own solutions. Mediators do not counsel, give advice, make decisions for the participants, or pass judgments.
The Big 3 of Mediation
- Non-judgmental: Mediators listen, and highlight what’s important to everyone.
- Confidentiality: Mediators maintain confidentiality except for issues of abuse of vulnerable individuals and credible threats of violence.
- Voluntary: Mediation is voluntary and the participants can end the process at any time.
