Mediation is a process in which professionally trained, non-judgmental mediators help participants in a conflict to communicate, understand each other, and if possible, reach agreements are mutually acceptable. In mediation, the participants decide the outcome. The mediators will lead the mediation process, listen, and ask questions to understand what participants say. Mediators DO NOT give advice, DO NOT decide who is right or wrong, and DO NOT take sides. The mediators and Center staff will maintain confidentiality concerning what is said, written, or otherwise communicated in mediation, and what happens in mediation. The mediators will NOT maintain confidentiality concerning child abuse, abuse of vulnerable adults, or credible threats to do future bodily harm. The mediators have read and agreed to abide by the Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators. Mediation is voluntary. The participants or the mediators may decide to stop the mediation process at any time for any reason. The mediators DO NOT provide legal advice. The participants may consult with a lawyer at any time. The participants agreement at the end of the mediation process may be an enforceable contact.

THE BIG THREE PLUS:

- VOLUNTARY.  You decide whether to try mediation or not.   You will never be forced to agree to something you don’t agree to.

- CONFIDENTIAL. The mediators will not reveal what is said or agreed in mediation (with the exception of child abuse, elder abuse or credible threats of future violence).

- NON-JUDGMENTAL.  Mediators do not take sides, decide who is right or wrong, make suggestions or give advice.

- FREE. Mediation at WCCMC is always 100% free of charge.

The 10 Point Community Mediation Model

A group of stakeholders throughout the state of Maryland, in collaboration with the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) met several times to develop the guidelines below. These guidelines are the core of our funding model and have evolved into the standard by which all community mediation centers strive to operate in Maryland.

Mediation helps people reach agreements, rebuild relationships, and find permanent solutions to their disputes. Mediation is a process that lets people speak for themselves and make their own decisions. Community mediation provides a non-profit framework for assuring access to mediation services at the community level with control and responsibility for dispute resolution maintained in the community.

Community mediation strives to:

1. Train community members- who reflect the community's diversity with regard to age, race, gender, ethnicity, income, and education to serve as volunteer mediators. 

2. Provide mediation at no cost or on a sliding scale.

3. Hold mediations in neighborhoods where disputes occur. 

4. Schedule mediations at a time and place convenient to the participants.

5. Encourage early use of mediation to prevent violence or to reduce the need for court intervention, as well as provide mediation at any stage in a dispute.

6. Mediate community-based disputes that come from referral sources including self-referrals, police, courts, community organizations, civic groups, religious institutions, government agencies and others.

7. Educate community members about conflict resolution and mediation. 

8. Maintain high quality mediators by providing intensive, skills-based training, apprenticeships, continuing education and ongoing evaluation of volunteer mediators.

9. Work with the community in governing community mediation programs in a manner that is based on collaborative problem solving among staff, volunteers and community members.

10. Provide mediation, education, and potentially other conflict resolution processes to community members who reflect the community's diversity with regard to age, race, gender, ethnicity, income, education and geographic location.