Services
Court Mediation
Mediation services are offered to people with with scheduled hearings in the small claims sessions of the Gardner, Fitchburg, Leominster and Winchendon District Courts. Our mediation coordinator or volunteers are present at each of these small claims sessions. They explain the mediation process to parties present and are available to mediate there and then. Parties can also avail themselves of mediation before the trial date by contacting our office in advance
Mediation requires cooperation from both parties and a willingness to be flexible. Mediation is voluntary, either party has the right to refuse to mediate. If the mediation is not successful, the parties return to the courtroom and have their hearing before the Clerk Magistrate, as originally planned.
Through mediation parties can reach a successful resolution on which all participants have agreed.
Statistically, mediation has a success rate in excess of 74%.
Community Mediation
The overarching goal of community mediation is to prevent the escalation of violence in the community by helping residents to talk through their conflicts, with the assistance of volunteer community mediators.
Often, community-based conflicts are complex and require multiple mediation sessions. Typical conflicts referred to mediation include:
contract and money disputes
property damage
neighborhood feuds
landlord/tenant
noise complaints
parent/child
parent/parent
sibling/sibling
other community disturbances
Mediations give all participants the opportunity to have a neutral third party facilitate conversation and help to focus the parties on the issues. Mediation Services has also successfully mediated families comprising of multi-generations.
Our conflict resolution services help parties move forward.
Conflict Coaching - Facilitation - Restorative Justice
CONFLICT COACHING
Have you been in a conflict and wished someone could help you work through it? That's what Conflict Coaching is all about. Let our trained and skilled coach help you! Our goals are to help you understand and analyze your conflict from all perspectives, identify what you want from the relationship, where you want the conflict to go, and help you build your skills to deal with the conflict.
This is not mediation, it is a 1-on-1, client centered service.
We focus on your goals for our coaching sessions.
We work with you to help you articulate your needs.
FACILITATION
Do you have a conflict in a workplace or other group setting? We can help your group have a productive conversation with a facilitated discussion/meeting.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
Restorative practice seeks to build, strengthen and or rebuild relationships among members of the community. Examples include: community conversations, community circles, restorative circles, and restorative conversations. These can be used in schools and youth settings as well as in families and neighborhood settings.
LEARN ABOUT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
OTHER RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
State Resources and Information
State Resources and Information
State Resources and Information
Divorce Resources
State Resources and Information
State Resources and Information
Though MSI is happy to help with parenting plan changes post divorce or parenting plans for unmarried couples, we DO NOT provide divorce mediation services. To find a divorce professional near you or learn more about divorce mediation or other litigation alternatives visit.
MSI Videos
State Resources and Information
MSI Videos
What is Mediation
What is Conflict Coaching