Mediation participants are guided to seek creative, peaceful solutions to resolve their own problems, to effectively communicate their needs, and to make their own decisions. Volunteer mediators control the process, and mediation participants own the problem(s) and the solution(s). Agreements are reached and skills are learned during these processes.The mediation process helps heal relationships a
nd promotes cooperation among families,schools, landlords/tenants, neighbors, businesses, courts and among community members – even in those infrequent instances when agreement is not reached. The mediation process enables people to resolve issues by talking with one another in an informal, safe, structured, and confidential setting.Trained neutral mediators help the parties come to an agreement without judging right or wrong. Each party describes the problem from his or her own point of view and offers possible solutions. The volunteer mediators help the parties to focus on the real issues causing the problem; then the mediators assist them in finding workable solutions. When the parties arrive at an agreement, it is put into writing and becomes a binding contract. Over 80% of meditations result in a signed agreement, and over 80% of signed agreements are kept per 60-day follow-ups with all participants.
