Mediation Terms and Definitions

Facilitation A collaborative process involving the use of a neutral third party (facilitator) to design and oversee a group process. Facilitation is used to help a group reach a goal or complete a task to the mutual satisfaction of participants. Mediation Process in which a third party neutral facilitates communications and negotiations among parties to find a mutually acceptable resolution of a dispute. Settlement Week A court and bar sponsored mediation awareness program in which volunteer mediators assist litigants and attorneys in exploring ADR opportunities for settling civil cases. Many courts in Ohio hold settlement weeks. Conflict Management A philosophy and set of skills designed to assist people in better understanding and dealing with conflict as it arises in all aspects of our lives. Alternative (or Appropriate) Dispute Resolution (ADR) Used narrowly to refer to a set of alternatives to litigation including mediation, arbitration, and summary jury trials. Used broadly it refers to all methods which resolve conflicts between parties by a means other than an adversarial or judicial process. Confidentiality Provides that information shared during the course of a dispute resolution process is deemed private and is not to be revealed to anyone outside of the process. Conflict A broad term regarding an interaction between people with differing interests which are perceived as incompatible. Derived from the Latin conflictus, meaning "to strike together." Conflict is often inevitable, but constructive outcomes from conflict are frequently possible. Reconciliation Though not a formalized term, it describes steps taken to heal or improve relationships that have been damaged by a conflict. Policy Dialogue Informal discussion of public policy issues incorporating many different interested parties. This process usually clarifies key issues, and increases understanding between groups that are often publicly opposed to one another Assessment An impartial analysis of a conflict situation conducted with an eye towards determining potential paths by which parties may reach a resolution of their conflict.

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	Did You Know?
	Mediation has many qualities that make it appealing. In most cases, mediation is: conciliatory fair quick inexpensive voluntary confidential Mediation also has several key benefits. It promotes: greater participant control customized agreements workable decisions mutually satisfactory outcomes improved relationships high rates of compliance decisions that hold up over time