Peacemaker Program, Inc.

The Peacemaker Program, Inc. offers the following:

Mediation Services: Mediation is a confidential dispute resolution process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) helps parties identify issues, clarify
perceptions and explore options for a mutually acceptable outcome.

Custody/Visitation/Support Mediation-
Our model places the primary focus on the children and assists individuals to recognize how their interactions may be affecting the children?s various life stages. Through mutual cooperation, the participants create and secure a more stable environment and future for their children. Parties also have the option of having their agreements made into a legally binding order of the court.


Mediation services are provided for a wide array of conflicts including: parent-child, small claims, landlord-tennant, consumer-merchant, special education, and many other types of conflicts.

We are currently developing divorce mediation, and a persons in need of supervision advocacy program for youths at risk of out of home placement. Funds are needed to expand these efforts.

CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers who collect the facts and advocate for what is best for abused and neglected children. Volunteers are assigned by Family Court Judges in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.

Arbitration
A method of dispute resolution where a neutral third party (the arbitrator) is empowered to determine the settlement of the issue. Their decision is final and binding on the parties, and is enforceable in a court of law. Arbitration cases include Small claims and Lemon Law cases.


Child Custody Advocate Program- Volunteers collect the facts and advocate for what is best for children caught in the middle of custody and visitation disputes.

Adventure Programs: uses a challenge by choice experiential model to offer skill building services to youth and adults. We incorporate a conflict resolution, problem solving, effective communication, and teamwork training into our challenging and fun activities. We use our traveling ropes course, low ropes course and challenging hiking/repelling trips to teach these valuable skills to youth and adults in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

Surrogate Decision Making: A rotating panel of volunteers that focuses on the best interest of mentally disabled persons in need of major medical procedures that do not have a legally authorized or available surrogate and do not have the capacity to make the decision.
Young Leaders in Training- A program designed to promote community involvement and connectedness among Madison County?s teens in foster care who are likely to be released on their own, as opposed to returned to an adult guardian. Teens will learn more about such topics as voting, fitness, school and sports, conflict resolution, county government, overcoming barriers, arts, job and apartment searches, and employment.