They resolve parent-child conflicts, generational issues such as elder care or wills and estates, and disputes with their neighbors. Healthily-managed conflict among individuals and families reduces violence in communities. Citizens often attain a quicker, cheaper, and more satisfactory resolution to their dispute through mediation than by litigation, avoidance or confrontation. Individuals can experience conflict as an opportunity to learn, to acknowledge and appreciate differences, to restore a sense of their own capacity to handle life's problems, and to empathize with the difficulties of other people. The 1700-plus volunteer mediators take their skills and experience into their families, workplace and other community activities.
Centers train many thousands more in various conflict resolution skills.
Divorcing couples find a less traumatic process for resolving the emotional issues of child custody, child support, property division and related concerns. Reduce school violence. Serving as on-site coordinators, consultants and trainers, centers have assisted more than 300 schools across the state to successfully implement conflict resolution curriculum and peer mediation programs. Schools report a reduction in violence and an improved atmosphere for learning. Eases overburdened court dockets.