Parent-Youth Mediation

When is it used?
How does it work?
How much does it cost?
What do the mediators do?
What are some possible issues?
Who are the mediators?

When is it used?

• Before, during or after a crisis
  
• When family tension is high
  
• When an adolescent runs away from home, is truant from school or exhibits chronic behavioral problems
  
• When a court hearing is pending
  
• When an adolescent is preparing to return home from placement
  

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How does it work?

• Parent-youth mediation examines conflict in the context of each unique family system, and empowers parents and children to take responsibility for both the conflict and its solution.
  
• Parent-youth mediation helps to alleviate current and future stresses in the family by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to conflict among family members.
  
• Parent-youth mediation strives to identify mutually acceptable solutions that fit the unique circumstances of each family.
  
• Parent-youth mediation empowers families to solve conflict by teaching conflict resolution techniques that will serve them, and others, for a lifetime.

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How much does it cost?

Cheshire Mediation provides parent-youth mediations free of charge to families in Cheshire County.

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What do the mediators do?

Mediators help family members:

• Voice individual concerns
  
• Establish a sense of equality among all participants while discussing issues
  
• Identify the issues that are appropriate for mediation
  
• Break down misunderstandings by opening the lines of communication
  
• Identify and focus on common interests
  
• Clarify ways in which the situation could change for the better
  
• Make their own rules
  
• Write a mutually acceptable agreement
  
• Find new ways to manage conflict that can be applied to future problems

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What are some possible issues?

• responsibilities in the home
  
• parental authority
  
• fighting
  
• family arguments
  
• communication
  
• curfew
  
• running away from home
  
• truancy
  
• academic performance
  
• adjustments to separation, divorce or remarriage
  
• friends and social activities
  
• money: allowance and employment
• predelinquent activity
• drug or alcohol use
  

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Who are the mediators?

For parent-youth mediations, Cheshire Mediation draws on the volunteer services of about 30 men and women from many walks of life who have gone through a 36 hour training and a 20 hour internship.
Cheshire Mediation staff is available to the mediators for advice and support.

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