During the 4th quarter fiscal year of 2019, Tri Community Mediation presented to 34 detainees in the Wicomico County area housed at the Wicomico County Detention Center. Of that, 4 incarcerated individuals requested our service who were eligible for mediation in accordance with the detention center’s new policy. One first session was held during the quarter. Neither mediation participant was a parent, so therefore no parenting plans were established. Although this case did not include participants who were parents of minor children, one participant had grandchildren and one participant had other family members who were minor children. Supporting participants in this conversation allows participants to resolve familial issues as well as other issues that impact children within the family. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete the mediation process. Completion of the mediation process means that both participants come up with a detailed, specific plan. Sometimes it takes more than one mediation session to complete the process. In this quarter, we were not able to come up with a detailed, specific plan before the incarcerated individual was released from the facility. In the past, when given more time to schedule mediations that fit within the participants’ schedules, we have had a much greater success rate in completing the mediation process. This reflects one impact of the detention center’s policy regarding the time we are given to schedule mediations before the incarcerated individual is released.    

Creating space for people to meet face to face, with support rather than judgement or advice, improves the relationships of parents/caregivers of children whose parents are incarcerated. The vendor utilizies evaluations at the end of each mediation session and this rubric is used for measuring both quality assurance as well as the efficacy of their services. The evaluations also serve as a measurement tool for the Reentry Mediation Programs across the state of Maryland. It has been shown that by taking part in

one mediation session the predicted probability recidivism which is re-arrest, reconviction, and reincarceration is reduced be 10%. Any additionally session after the first session is another 7% each session. A minimum of three sessions is the expectancy to provide high quality service mediation to the participants.

What’s working?

The partnership overall with the Wicomico County Detention Center has been supported by administration and the vendor has the opportunity to meet throughout the year to address our evolution. When there were challenges with space availability for presentations that would have limited to monthly presentations, the vendor began providing presentations directly on the tiers. Staff have an officer assigned to the vendor's team twice a week to support in hosting presentations and one on ones. Accessibility for participants is essential in this work. At Wicomico County Detention Center, there is a kiosk on each tier of the cell blocks and request mediation services.

The vendor's team consists of staff and volunteer mediators. All of whom are providing services at WCDC have completed orientation for the institution. The team consists of mediators who reflect the diversity of the community we serve. While all of team members have been trained and apprenticed in mediation, intake and case management it increases accessibility to potential participants when the people providing services reflect the diversity of the people receiving services.

What doesn’t?

Transportation is one of the biggest barriers in terms of access to mediation. Outside participants frequently are limited financially and often times do not have independent transportation. In an effort to increase access to mediation when a request for services has been made and transportation is the only barrier, we have underwritten the cost of cab services. This was an unanticipated and unbudgeted expense that the vendor worked to creatively resolve as they are committed to making mediation available regardless of people’s income.

Accessibility for scheduling mediations can be challenging. The great news is there are a variety of programs taking place at the Detention Center. Unfortunately, this can create challenges around space availability for mediations.

FY19 Annual: We are grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Ellen Willinghan, Maryland Reentry Navigator, during her time in this position. Her support of the incarcerated population and community affected by incarceration, and her efforts to increase access to rehabilitative services for incarcerated individuals both pre and post-release, has benefited many individuals and communities in the state of Maryland.

We continue to utilize the resource list given to us by the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children, which allows us to provide detainees who are expecting to be released shortly with contact information for a variety of sources that can help them in their transition. Our partnership has enhanced our ability to provide resources that empower individuals who are transitioning back into the community, and has enabled us to give care providers and children of incarcerated individuals’ access to our services.

Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children

Wicomico County Detention Center

Maryland Re-Entry Navigator

Allowing parents who are incarcerated to sit down with the person (s) important in their lives prior to release creates an opportunity to address concerns and make plans for and after release. At the mediation table we work on understanding where everyone is coming from without judgement, listening for goals, even through the blame, and developing a list of manageable topics about which participants are then able to develop solutions. All of the concerns are able to address in this way. This can range from living arrangements to future employment in an effort to create greater stability and maintain freedom. It may also involve a person who is currently incarcerated, walking through in detail with their person from the outside, the expectations of a drug court program to have support and success, as well as a shared awareness of the schedule and expectations involved. Discipline plans, school attendance, and child care for children are able to be discussed in ways that can address the current situation as well after release. The vendor works to reduce the impact of incarceration on children by giving people the opportunity to end the cycle of recidivism, take time to reflect on how they have gotten "there" and what it will take to move in a different direction in actual practical ways, as well as support care givers on the outside who are working to meet the needs of children. 

Provide mediation to those families (in conjunction with the family education/parenting program) taking part in the parenting classes in Wicomico County Detention Center in order to improve family structure and communication prior to release.

Allowing parents who are incarcerated to sit down with the person (s) important in their lives prior to release creates an opportunity to address concerns and make plans for now and after release. At the mediation table the staff with Tri Community Mediation work on understanding where everyone is coming from without judgement. The staff do this through listening for goals, even when there is judgement and blame, and developing a list of manageable topics about which participants are then able to develop solutions. All of the concerns are able to be addressed in this way. This can range from living arrangements to future employment, in an effort to create greater stability and maintain freedom. It may also involve a person who is currently incarcerated, walking through, in detail, with their person from the outside, the expectations of a drug court program to have support and success, as well as a shared awareness of the schedule and expectations involved. Discipline plans, school attendance, and childcare for children are able to be discussed in ways that can address the current situation as well as after release. Tri Community Mediation works to reduce the impact on incarceration on children by giving people the opportunity to end the cycle of recidivism, to take time to reflect on how they have gotten "there" and what it will take to move in a different direction in actual practical ways, as well as support caregivers on the outside who are working to meet the needs of the children. 

Allowing parents who are incarcerated to sit down with the person (s) important in their lives prior to release creates an opportunity to address concerns and make plans for now and after release. At the mediation table the staff with Tri Community Mediation work on understanding where everyone is coming from without judgement. The staff do this through listening for goals, even when there is judgement and blame, and developing a list of manageable topics about which participants are then able to develop solutions. All of the concerns are able to be addressed in this way. This can range from living arrangements to future employment, in an effort to create greater stability and maintain freedom. It may also involve a person who is currently incarcerated, walking through, in detail, with their person from the outside, the expectations of a drug court program to have support and success, as well as a shared awareness of the schedule and expectations involved. Discipline plans, school attendance, and childcare for children are able to be discussed in ways that can address the current situation as well as after release. Tri Community Mediation works to reduce the impact on incarceration on children by giving people the opportunity to end the cycle of recidivism, to take time to reflect on how they have gotten "there" and what it will take to move in a different direction in actual practical ways, as well as support caregivers on the outside who are working to meet the needs of the children.

FY19 Annual: This quarter, only one mediation session took place, and no parenting plans were created. This reflects the impact of the administration’s policy on our ability to serve the incarcerated population and their families in Wicomico County, despite our continued efforts to inform incarcerated individuals of the mediation service we offer on a weekly basis, as well as our efforts to develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with the administration and other staff.

We are committed to the objectives outlined through our partnership with the Governor’s Office of Children and the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children in reducing the impact of incarceration on children by providing re-entry mediation. We are very concerned about the lack of access to mediation services created by this policy. We continue to offer to present to incarcerated individuals directly on the tier, which allows us to present to individuals twice a week and also to do intakes.

Initially, we were able to provide experientially based presentations which included reflective exercises and discussions. We were able to convey our values of being non-judgmental, authentic and trustworthy, giving potential mediation participant’s faith in the effectiveness of our program. When the 90 day policy was established, we were then limited to asking a close-ended question regarding interest in learning about mediation to eligible individuals who have not heard our presentation. This approach has never been effective in generating interest or credibility for our organization and the services we offer, nor in informing individuals about other beneficial services to prepare for their transition into the community.

Due to the large number of programs taking place at the detention center, there also continue to be limitations in terms of spaces available for our mediations. We utilize the calendars provided by our liaison that are marked each month with dates and times that are open for mediation. Having these calendars on a monthly basis has provided us with more ease and efficiency in setting up mediations, although our access to available spaces is still limited. We will continue to advocate for the confidential spaces we need and flexibility in scheduling in order to provide our participants with as much access as possible to our mediation services. When we are able to hold a mediation, we utilize evaluation forms at the end of each mediation session which allows us to check for quality assurance and to gain perspective on the needs and opinions of our mediation participants, allowing us to understand any areas where we may want to improve as well as areas in which we are effective.

While we are disappointed in the decrease in the number of individuals we have been able to serve since this policy change was enacted, we remain committed to providing the greatest access to our services as possible, and in the face of these changes and obstacles, we have put more effort and energy into finding ways to provide access and opportunity to our services for members of the community. We will continue to work on understanding and being understood around the needs of our program, in order to be able to provide mediation services to as many incarcerated individuals and families as possible, no matter what challenges we are faced with in providing this service.

Tri Community Mediation is committed to providing the greatest access to our services as possible, and in face of the changes and obstacles in the Wicomico County Detention Center, that staff will continue to put in more effort and energy into finding ways to provide access and opportunity to the services for members of the community. The staff continues to work on understanding and being understood around the needs of the program, in order to create a partnership that will enable the staff to provide mediation services to as many incarcerated individuals and families as possible. 

The prioritized indicator is Juvenile Felony Arrests. 

Governor Larry Hogan has prioritized this result to help communities become safe for children, youth, and families. 

Mediation will be provided to those families (in conjunction with the Familiy Education/Parenting Program) taking part in the parenting education workshops in Wicomico County Dentention Center in order to improve family structure and communication prior to release. The awarded vendor will provide conflict management training and reflective discussions at Wicomico Detention Center 2/3 times per week. The vendor will have individual conversations with each person who attended the training or discussion. The staff will explain the mediation process and get contact information for outside particpants that the incarceratred individual would like to invite to mediation. Upon recieiveing contact clearance from the institution, staff will call and send letters to these outside people to invite them to mediation. The vendor will offer opporutnities for in-person/child-parent communication. 

Families impacted by incarceration.

Reduce Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children, Families, and Communities. 

FY19 Annual: Our connection with the Wicomico County Detention Center (WCDC) has allowed us to continue to serve the incarcerated population and the community members who participate in mediation in Wicomico county. The administration’s policy change continues to negatively affect our ability to provide mediation in the facility. The number of individuals we are able to serve has been drastically reduced by this policy. We continue to go on the tier twice a week to offer presentations on our services, and although we offer the presentation to anyone who is interested in hearing about mediation, knowing that they can only receive mediation if they are sentenced and within 90 days of release continues to discourage many individuals from being interested in hearing about our program. We also continue to offer flyers that explain mediation and include our contact information, even if they are not interested in hearing a presentation on mediation.  

Our communication with the new Classifications Counselor has been a relatively smooth transition. Toward the end of the third quarter, the detention center informed us that the position of Classifications Counselor would be rotated every four months. Initially, this created some challenges in scheduling presentations and mediations in an efficient and timely manner at the detention center. The newest coordinator has been cordial and helpful, and although at times it has been necessary to explain aspects of our program and reiterate our agreement with the detention center in order to clarify what we are requesting, she has been supportive of our program and responsive to our requests.    

Our supporting officer continues to be consistent with preparation and timeliness in supporting our presentations. In addition, he offers to help us gather more information as needed regarding scheduling changes, eligibility of potential participants, arranging intakes or other meetings to check in with detainees regarding mediation cases, and any other logistical challenges that arise around mediation presentations at the detention center.

Tri Community Mediation's connection with the Wicomico County Detention Center (WCDC) has allowed the staff with re-rentry mediation to continue to serve the incarcerated poplulation and the community members who participate in mediation. The administration's policy change, which took effect at the end of May 2018, continues to negatively affect the ability to provide mediation in the facility. The previous policy stated that the incarcerated individual must be within 2-24 months of release in order to be eligible for mediation. SInce incarcerated individuals at the detention center cannot be held for more than 18 months, eligible individuals included all incarcerated individuals. Now, the staff with Tri Community Mediation can only schedule mediations if the incarcerated individual has a release date and is within 90 days of release. This means that mediations are longer able to be scheduled with individuals who are not yet sentenced and who are more that 90 days from release, which majority of the incarcerated individuals held at WCDC.

During the 4th quarter of Fiscal Year 2018, the Vendor presented to and conducted one-on-one intakes to 94 detainees in the Wicomico County area housed at the Wicomico County Detention Center. With17 parents requesting mediation, the vendor was able to host mediation sessions for two incarcerated parents. Two parenting plans were established, and one case completed the mediation process. Completing the mediation process means that both particpants were able to come up with a detailed, specific plan. Although completing a plan provides valuable clarity moving forward, those that do not complete the mediation process gain equally valuable insight during the other stages of the mediation process. Being heard and gaining clarity and understanding in the mediation process becomes a catalyst for change in participants' relationships, both with one another and with themselves.  

We utilize four tools for measure as we reflect on this work.  The first is our case management database, the second is the Re-entry Mediation Pre-Service Questionnaires for inside and outside participants, third is

our Re-entry Mediation Evaluation Form, and lastly is our Re-entry Mediator Reporting Form.

We track in real time on our database each presentation, intake, and mediation session.

At Intake, prior to the first session we talk with each potential participant and fill out the Re-entry Mediation Pre-Service Questionnaires for inside and outside participants.  These surveys capture a range of information including criminal and incarceration histories (for the individual who is incarcerated,) demographics, views on conflict, and the overall health of the relationship with the person with whom they wish to mediate.

At the end of each mediation session we provide evaluations for participants to complete. Completing evaluations is encouraged, but voluntary. The numbers in the table above, reflect the responses of the participants who completed evaluations. We received evaluations from over 90% of our participants. These evaluations measure the impact the mediation has had on the participants’ relationships, as well as how their view on conflict has evolved and how supportive they feel the mediators were in the mediation process.

Following each mediation session the co-mediators complete the Re-entry Mediator Reporting Form.  This form measures the stage in the mediation process the participants reached, the range of topics and mediator demographics.

What/How Much We Do: We use the case management database to obtain the numbers of how many co-parenting plans have been created and how many parents who are incarcerated have participated in a re-entry mediation.

How Well We Do It:  We use the Re-entry Mediator Reporting Form, which measures what stage in the mediation process the participants reached.  When participants have created a specific and detailed plan it is recorded and we compare this to the total number of participants who had a mediation but did not develop a completed plan.

The Re-entry Mediation Evaluation Form is used to assess the percentage of parents who feel they can better meet the needs of their child/children and family as a result of re-entry mediation.  We determine this by measuring the satisfaction in the results of the mediation, and their ability to understand and be understood by their child/children’s caregiver.  An average of score of Strongly Agree or Agree, from all three questions determines a positive result in this area.

Is Anyone Better Off:  The Re-entry Mediation Evaluation Form is used to assess the numbers and percentages of incarcerated parents and caregivers who report an improved relationship with the other following re-entry mediation.   We determine this by measuring the shifts in understanding the other, being understood by the other as reported on the Re-Entry Mediation Evaluation Form.  We also compare the responses on the Re-entry Mediation Pre-Service Questionnaire and the Re-entry Mediation Evaluation Form to track the shifts from feeling like they have no control in what happens in their relationship with their relationship the other participant.  An average of score the three scores: Strongly Agree or Agree for the first two questions and the presence of a shift away from feeling like they have no control in what happens is then recorded as a positive indication of reporting an improved relationship with their /children’s parent/caregiver(s).

The Vendor utilized four tools for measure. 

• Case management database
• Re-Entry Mediation Pre-Service Questionnaires for inside and outside particpants
• Re-Entry Mediation Evaluation Form
• Re-Entry Mediator Reporting Form