PARENT/TEEN MEDIATION

Inadequate communication is the #1 cause for conflict. When left to grow untended, behavior and relationships are strongly and negatively affected. It is well documented that this can lead to criminal behavior. Based on this concept, it seemed logical to bring parents and troubled teens together to "talk" with the possibility of bringing about behavioral changes in the home. At Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), where I was Executive Director for six years, we had for several years, a Juvenile Offender program which brought the juvenile together with the person(s) s/he had offended. A ground swell occurred in this area with increasing numbers of persons and agencies creating various programs and trainings for Parent/Teen mediation.

MY TRAINING IN THIS AREA

• Five-Day Training in Santa Fe, NM sponsored by the New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution of Albuquerque
• Training for Youth Gang Intervention and Prevention through Sam Houston State University
• I have taught Parent/Teen Mediation

MY EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA

Having learned of this concept and the value of it, I contacted the local Juvenile Justice Center. We jointly launched this program at the Juvenile Boot Camp in Corpus Christi, a County program. The youths were incarcerated for eight months, and went through stiff rehabilitation, both for substance abuse and to alter negative behavioral patterns.

Our program took place near the end of their stay. The parent(s) would come to the Boot Camp and meet with their sons or daughters. The Mediation focused on how they were going to live together now that the young person had had this rehabilitation experience. They talked about chores, freedom limits, house rules, etc. The environment was safe for them to say things that they had never been able to say before. In one instance, a Mother came to the Mediations drunk, and her 14 year old son lovingly confronted his Mother about her addiction. The point is that the young people were being educated about life skills and how to effectively use them.

The Boot Camp personnel reported changes in the youths' behavior as early as the day following the Mediation. We would, depending on the severity of the case, hold more than one Mediation. Because long-standing family behavior patterns were being changed, we realized that they needed time to process this new information. They were basically learning a new form communication and how to feel safe with each other. They had finally been able to talk freely and safely with their parents.

Parent/Teen Mediation marries well with Peer (School) Mediations