Community Mediation Community Mediation Program Community Mediation Mediation is a process which gives responsibility for a problem and control over the outcome of a dispute to the people involved in the dispute. Community Mediation takes this concept to an institutional level by taking the entire dispute resolution process and maintaining control and responsibility for it in the community at large. Below are the key areas which community mediation programs use to accomplish this goal. The mediators are members of the community they serve and reflect the diversity of that community in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, and educational background.
Mediation is accessible to everyone in the community regardless of their ability to pay.
Mediation services may be offered at no cost or for a sliding fee. Mediation sessions are held in the communities in which the dispute occurred, to reinforce the message that the community can develop its own solutions and to increase accessibility. Mediation is available to assist in resolving disputes at any stage in their development. One goal is to mediate the dispute before it escalates into violence and before legal action has been taken. Referrals come from courts, police, community organizations, civic groups, religious institutions, government agencies, community leaders and individuals refer themselves and their friends and family members.