DRAFT ASSESSMENT REPORT: Community Mediation Services

2008 was a challenging year for Community Mediation Services (CMS).

First we learned that our largest contract, to mediate client grievances with Maine’s Department of Health & Human Services, would not be renewed – a victim of DHHS budget cuts. Soon after, our long-term Executive Director resigned.

In response, the CMS Board engaged a consultant to serve as Interim Executive Director and lead a process of assessment, planning, and organizational change. We set out to assess both organizational and community needs, in consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders: staff, board, volunteer mediators, funders, colleagues and clients.

Here’s what we heard from our stakeholders:

• Mediation works.

  • It brings people together to find common ground.

  • People are empowered to solve their own problems.

  • It saves time and money, as compared with the legal process.

  • Results last. Participants are more likely to follow an agreement they devise themselves, even over a court order. They carry what they learn in the process into their future lives.

• CMS does good (mediation & facilitation) work.

• Mediation is underappreciated & underutilized.

• There are MANY needs & opportunities for community mediation services.

• CMS needs to grow, and diversify its funding base, to meet these needs.

In meetings throughout the summer, and at our October 6^th Town Meeting, the CMS Board significantly refocused its long-term vision of the work of CMS, to equally emphasize:

• Outreach/Advocacy

  • Working to raise the visibility & utilization of mediation

  • Strengthening collaborations with natural allies

  • Promoting CMS as a resource to those who won’t otherwise have access

  • Expanding our capacity to respond to the resulting demand

• Assertive intervention

  • Continuing to offer current services, plus

  • Adding the capacity to anticipate -- and offer assistance -- when we see community conflicts that mediation/ facilitation can help

  • Along the way, teaching folks to better resolve their conflicts

• Mediator Development

  • Continuing to provide mediators who have completed training with “seat time” -- on-the-job training, teamed with more seasoned mediators

  • Expanding the availability of mediation opportunities

  • Expanding specialized (USDA/other) trainings

  • Expanding opportunities for continuing education & peer support

How will we get there?

• Our current staff is less than half the size it was a year ago. The core of our funding (and work) is our agricultural mediation program, and we can do only as much “community” mediation as excess capacity, one small grant, and individual contributions can support.

• The good news is that volunteers do our mediations. Our roster of talented volunteers keeps growing, with 7 new volunteers (and 9 current ones) completing the agricultural mediation training we offered on December 4^th.

• Current demand stretches to the limit staff capacity to do intakes, schedule mediations and volunteers, and support & oversee the process. Many needs go unmet, and many opportunities go unexplored, for lack of staff capacity to do more.

• So we’re actively pursuing grant support for expansion, and community support for a portion of our budget. Diversifying our funding sources means meeting more needs.

• We’re also exploring partnership possibilities, for greater efficiency and stability.

How can you help, you ask?

• Of course we’re looking for individual financial contributions toward meeting these needs and fulfilling our mission: promoting community peacemaking by creating environments and opportunities for dialogue and understanding. Contributions can be mailed to: Community Mediation Services, P.O. Box 177, Augusta ME 04332.

• Note too that the CMS Board is seeking a few new members, as it steers CMS toward its future goals. Nominations, including self-nominations, are welcome.

2009 is a new year, with fresh hopes for CMS, and for the people and communities our work impacts. We thank you for all past/current/future support!

Nan Bell, Board Chair ▪ Debbie Mattson, Vice Chair ▪ Sanford Jorgensen, Secretary ▪ Leslie Manning, Treasurer ▪ Marjorie Love, Interim Executive Director ▪ Amy Wilmot, Case Coordinator ▪ Mary Beth Paquette, Agricultural Outreach Coordinator