We hope to create peace in the community!

We work in collaboration with county agencies, the courts, local organizations, individuals and non-profits to open communication and to assist us with spreading the message that through mediation conflicts can be resolved and for those who participate, they are more likely to reach their goals with a strong sense of self-determination. Our service offerings support our mission of providing mediation, facilitation, and education for the peaceful resolution of conflicts to all who ask. We aim to improve the quality of life for individuals in Anne Arundel County and to create a more peaceful and productive community by helping people communicate constructively to resolve conflict We provide instruction, training workshops and continuing education to our partners and within the community around the following topics: Mediation, Conflict Resolution Education, Paid Trainings, Facilitation, Community Conferencing, and Anger Management

AACRC has a very diverse roster of 43 professionally trained volunteers and 7 staff who range in age from 19 to 80, with high school diplomas to Ph.D., retired judges, elected officials, college students, stay at home mothers and fathers, retirees, and yes a few lawyers all of whom meet rigorous mediation training and continuing education and annual evaluations. Frankly we serve everyone and we welcome everyone who believes he/she can make a difference. The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), a department of the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts created a ranking system for community mediation centers that determine the size and scope of work and funding each center is eligible to obtain annually. The highest level a center can attain is level six (6). AACRC is a level five (5) center and has successfully reached and maintained this ranking for the last three (2) years. We are extremely a disciplined organization and we utilize resources wisely.

We believe in gathering data and reviewing where we meet, exceed and even fall short of expectations. Because we collaborate with various county agencies and non-profits, many of our projects are grant funded, and; therefore, funding is contingent upon data. We share non-confidential data and request the same of our partners. We utilize a CRM to track everything from incoming calls, to outgoing emails, invitations to events, to outcomes of agreements with the courts. It is imperative that we measure how our work is conducted, and if that work is making a difference. This can only be achieved with base-line data and end results. But not all progress can measured in numbers. We have success stories that do not end with agreements and if that were the totality of the story we would be failing our constituents. For those programs and situations where written agreements are not achieved, but participants walk away with a set of life-changing skills, we have made a major impact!

AACRC has made a difference in thousands of lives here in Anne Arundel County. For the last 25 years, AACRC has consistently provided mediation services for thousands of Anne Arundel County residents and we intend to do more. In the past our model of providing mediation services was singularly focused. We determined that what our participants want and our community requires are wrap-around services that meet the need of the entire family. In the spirit of progress, we intend to progress along with the needs of our community and have Integrated Family Mediation Services (IFMS), which is an offering of multiple mediation services that may include Marital Separation and Parenting Planning, along with Child Custody/Child Access mediation. Prior to IFMS, we would work with a couple or individual solely in one area. We find that by offering families integrated services, they feel a sense of relief around waiting and looking for answers on other relevant topics.