FairField Mediation Center, Virginia’s first registered conflict mediation center located in Harrisonburg, has received approximately $100,000 in federal funds to pilot a police-referred mediation project.
The initiative will provide Rockingham and Augusta County residents access to free mediation, conciliation and conflict coaching services. The funding is part of an $853,000 award granted to Resolution Virginia, the state’s association of non-profit community dispute resolution centers. U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine secured the funding through the fiscal 2024 appropriations bills signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024. The project will also be implemented in other Virginia localities, including Fairfax, Amherst, Charlottesville, Roanoke and Warrenton.
According to a joint announcement from Warner and Kaine, the pilot project is designed to reduce reliance on police departments and courts while lowering levels of community violence. Christine Poulson, executive director of Resolution Virginia, highlighted the project’s goal of expanding access to justice and enhancing community safety.
“The police-referred mediation pilot project offers Virginians a simpler, more accessible path to justice and safer communities. Through this project, trained community-based mediators, conflict coaches, and facilitators can help residents develop constructive solutions to conflicts, reducing the risk of violence. It provides a less adversarial, more empowering alternative to traditional conflict resolution methods,” Poulson said.
In the coming months, FairField will work with local law enforcement to identify conflicts that could be resolved through the project, such as neighborhood disputes, and develop early intervention referral protocols. The center will also engage in a rigorous community awareness campaign and recruit and train community mediators.
“We are very excited about this opportunity and grateful to Resolution Virginia for including us. This funding will help us and other resolution dispute centers in Virginia be able to work with our community members to address conflicts at the best time and make a lasting impact in our communities,” said Jim Martin, FairField Mediation Center’s executive director.
Fairfield Mediation Center was established in 1982 as Virginia’s first mediation center, and offers mediation services for individuals and groups, focusing on conflict resolution outside the legal system. Fairfield Mediation Center provides professional conflict resolution, restorative justice services and training throughout Virginia.
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Rebecca Barnabi
