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Successful Mediation with Abusive Couples

NCJ Number
116779
Journal
Mediation Quarterly Issue: 23 Dated: (Spring 1989) Pages: 53-66
Author(s)
D Marthaler
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Mediation is appropriate for abusive couples because it provides an opportunity to educate parents on how conflict adversely affects children, it helps abused persons get a clear idea of their behavioral boundaries, and it provides an opportunity to show abusive couples what the consequences of abuse are and what psychological services are available.
Abstract
The St. Louis County (Minnesota) Social Services Department mediates with two or three sets of parents daily. About 40 percent are court-ordered and less than 30 percent involve abuse. The county's mediation process involves premeeting contacts, initial mediation sessions and background information collection. The county's philosophy is that when parents are thinking clearly about what is best for their children, they are able to cooperatively design a parenting agreement that provides a healthy environment for children and allows enough time with parents for their relationship to grow. Mediation is viewed as an additional response to abuse and not necessarily as a substitute for the legal response. One of the most difficult aspects of mediation is getting couples to set boundaries. Components of a comprehensive parenting agreement include schedules, communication, school conferences, medical treatment, and rules about new spouses and live-in friends. The mediator must impose certain rules that cannot be negotiated, such as respect for boundaries and consequences of continued violence. 3 references.

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