NCJ Number
98960
Journal
Mediation Quarterly Issue: 7 Dated: (March 1985) Pages: 23-33
Date Published
1985
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article identifies distinctive characteristics of mediation in parent-child conflicts, discusses special issues in such mediation, and examines the criteria and findings of research that has evaluated parent-child mediation outcomes.
Abstract
In mediating parent-child conflicts, the mediator guides the parties toward an agreement that specifies attitudinal and behavioral changes that can increase the benefits both parties derive from the relationship. The mediator should provide parent and child equal opportunity for input into resolving the conflict. The mediation agreement may include commitments by one or both parties to obtain social services relevant to particular personal or relational problems. Special issues in parent-child mediation are dealing with the dynamics of an ongoing relationship rather than one issue of conflict, making the mediation agreement task-oriented, and defining the issues to be addressed in mediation. New York City's PINS Mediation Project has measured the success of parent-child mediation by whether the parent (contacted 2 months after the conclusion of mediation) believed the mediation was helpful and that the child was more manageable as evidenced by the resolution of presenting problems. Other success criteria were completion of mediation and whether the child had any repeat court contact. Other research findings have found that parent-child mediation has produced more favorable outcomes than court handling of parent-child conflicts. Three references are listed.