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Addressing Parenting Disputes Between Estranged Parents Through Community Mediation

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  • Madhawa Palihapitiya
  • Kaila Obstfeld Eisenkraft

Abstract

Mediation provides a means of resolving disputes that promises to reduce litigation while avoiding further damage to party relationships. The present study addressed the question whether parents engaged in parenting disputes generated by divorce or separation received the promised benefits of mediation when services were delivered by means of community mediation, which combined the dual features of free services and volunteer mediators. Reported outcomes such as agreements, party satisfaction, relationship changes, and court involvement, as well as the connection between these outcomes and party factors of custodial status and income level, were examined, and several encouraging trends emerged. Results indicated that an economically diverse group of disputing parents were provided access to mediation services delivered under community mediation. Moreover, the prospect of avoiding litigation motivated a majority of parents to participate in community mediation. The positive outcomes reported by most parents, irrespective of income level and custodial status, included agreement and process satisfaction rates consistent with national trends, the development of parenting plans, and for a sizable minority of parents, reduced court involvement and improved between-parent interactions. However, non-custodial parents tended to be significantly more positive about mediation’s helpfulness with parenting issues than were custodial parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Madhawa Palihapitiya & Kaila Obstfeld Eisenkraft, 2014. "Addressing Parenting Disputes Between Estranged Parents Through Community Mediation," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(3), pages 21582440145, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:4:y:2014:i:3:p:2158244014542085
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244014542085
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beth Gazley & Won Kyung Chang & Lisa Blomgren Bingham, 2006. "Collaboration and Citizen Participation in Community Mediation Centers," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 23(4), pages 843-863, July.
    2. Hutson, Royce A., 2007. "Child support and parental conflict in low-income families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1142-1157, September.
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