Longfellow Bridge Task Force Process Evaluation Report

This report presents process evaluation findings and recommendations regarding the collaborative stakeholder process engaged in by the Longfellow Bridge Task Force, facilitated by the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, and sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under its bridge rehabilitation and restoration program. The purpose of the Task Force was to provide stakeholder and public input on the design of the Longfellow Bridge span cross-section, with particular focus on serving transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian needs effectively and safely

Legislative Hearing on MA Foreclosure Mediation Program Bills: Written Testimony to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

The inability of homeowners to communicate with holders of securitized mortgage obligations has been a significant barrier to completing affordable loan modifications that might prevent foreclosures or minimize losses and keep more homeowners in their homes. Increasingly, legislators and the courts are looking at mediation as a potential solution to the problem. In a little over a year, from mid-2008 to mid-2009, more than 25 distinct foreclosure mediation programs were launched in fourteen different states. State legislatures, state supreme courts, and local courts played roles in creating these programs. Mediation is being favored over litigation due to concerns such as those raised at a recent Senate hearing about Legal Aid groups as to whether more federally subsidized foreclosure lawsuits by low-income borrowers are the best method of representing their interests2 Many housing counselors believe mediation programs provide a structure for negotiations. This structure saves time in establishing lines of communication with loan servicers. Even attorneys have endorsed mediation saying they found foreclosure mediation programs helpful for providing them and the homeowner-clients much needed time to investigate the facts of a client’s case, and that this respite led to more informed decisions about potential legal claims. . Analysis of available data, however, indicates that foreclosure mediation programs, either court connected or independent, have little chance of delivering on their full potential. Interestingly, this failure has more to do with federal and state legislation on foreclosure mediation than the actual design of the respective foreclosure mediation programs in operation

Using Court-Connected ADR to Increase Court Efficiency, Address Party Needs, and Deliver Justice in Massachusetts

This report presents research and findings from a study of court-connected ADR commissioned by the Executive Office of the Trial Court (EOTC). The study was conducted by the state office of dispute resolution also known as the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The office has been serving as a neutral forum and state-level resource for almost 30 years. Its mission is to establish programs and build capacity within public entities for enhanced conflict resolution and intergovernmental and cross-sector collaboration in order to save costs for the state and its citizens and enable effective problem-solving and civic engagement on major public initiatives

Legislative Study: A Framework to Strengthen Massachusetts Community Mediation as a Cost-Effective Public Service

This report presents a study of community mediation commissioned by the Massachusetts Legislature in July 2011. The study was conducted by the state office of dispute resolution now known as the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The office has been serving as a neutral forum and state-level resource for over 20 years. Its mission is to establish programs and build capacity within public entities for enhanced conflict resolution and intergovernmental and cross-sector collaboration in order to save costs and enable effective problem-solving and civic engagement on major public initiatives. The report is based on a literature review of research publications on community mediation from nationally recognized scholars and on new research conducted through surveys administered by the National Association for Community Mediation and the University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition to describing community mediation and highlighting evidence of its effectiveness, the report outlines the history and current state of community mediation in Massachusetts and offers recommendations for a university-based state funding framework for sustainable community mediation programming in the Commonwealth

Massachusetts Community Mediation Center Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2014 Report & Evaluation

The Community Mediation Center Grant Program, funded by the commonwealth and administered by the state’s office of dispute resolution, was established to “promote the broad use of community mediation in all regions of the state” by awarding operating grants to eligible community mediation centers. This annual report describes the progress made in broadening access to community mediation by the grant program under the challenge of reduced state funding in FY 2014. Due to the funding cut, fewer centers were funded in FY 2014 compared to FY 2013, which reduced the quantity of services provided. However, the amount of money per grant was maintained thereby enabling the 14 funded centers to preserve their level of productivity and maintain their operations. These centers served their communities by providing mediation services to help settle disputes, contributed to the growth of social capacity for conflict resolution in their communities, and engaged in efforts to raise public awareness of community mediation as an alternative approach to resolving conflict. To achieve long-term sustainability and to broaden access to community mediation across the state, however, further effort is needed from community mediation centers and the CMC Grant Program, which in turn, requires continued and increased state funding and support

Massachusetts Community Mediation Center Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2013 Year-End Report & Evaluation

During Fiscal Year 2013, the first year of the Massachusetts Community Mediation Center (CMC) Grant Program, 15 community mediation centers across the state were awarded state operating grants. This report documents and evaluates the progress of the CMC Grant Program towards its goal of expanding the use of community mediation as an affordable public service for Massachusetts citizenry. The status of program implementation is analyzed, and the program’s success is assessed through its impact on the stabilization and effectiveness of the funded community mediation centers as measured by, among other things, their delivery of high quality mediation services, efforts to increase public awareness, and cultivation of community roots. The report discusses the human resource situation faced by participating centers and portrays the investment opportunity afforded by the Fiscal Year 2013 budget to reduce conflict and strengthen capacity for dispute resolution in Massachusetts communities. Recommendations for enhancing community impact as well as insuring the long-term sustainability of community mediation throughout the Commonwealth are proposed