Introduction

The Center for Policy Research conducted an evaluation of five pilot juvenile dependency mediation programs in California and submitted a report of the results to the California State Legislature in 1995. Three years later, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts published a directory of dependency mediation programs in several states that included eight California programs. There are now more than 20 California courts with juvenile dependency mediation programs. The programs currently in operation have practices and program designs that vary in almost every possible dimension.

Juvenile Dependency Mediation Research

A questionnaire was administered to Directors/Coordinators of all existing Juvenile Dependency Mediation Programs in California in January 2002. Research questions were designed in collaboration with staff at CFCC and the Juvenile Dependency Court Mediators' Association (JDCMA).

Topics covered included:

• How cases come to mediation
  
• Models of service
• Number and variety of mediation participants
• Role of juvenile dependency mediators
• Volume of cases handled
  

This is the first step in documenting the work of juvenile dependency mediation programs across the state. The survey results will provide the basis for an accurate, up-to-date summary of juvenile dependency mediation programs. A research update that describes the results will be published in Fall, 2002.

Juvenile Dependency Mediation Training

CFCC's research program and individual research projects are strongly linked to the needs of the courts and court services providers. The research helps identify areas and topics of concern that should be addressed in the extensive training for court-based mediators, investigators, and evaluators that CFCC provides. Findings from the JDM study will be incorporated in future publications and trainings for court professionals.

Please contact CFCC@jud.ca.gov for more information.