MEDIATION AND SOCIAL WORK: A STUDY OF FORM, FIT AND FUTURE (SOCIOLEGAL)

The use of mediation to resolve a variety of interpersonal disputes has expanded rapidly in the last several years. Both the number of programs and the types of disputes resolved through mediation have expanded considerably. The mediation literature suggests that mediation and social work share a common purpose, have similar objectives and apply many of the same skills and interventions. In addition the goal of every intervention in both social work and mediation is to further the self-sufficiency of the clients served. However, the connection between mediation and social work has not been made explicit. This study documented the congruence of mediation and social work in terms of purpose, objectives, interventions and values and proposed mediation as a specialization of social work practice. The study reviewed social work practice literature, the development and use of mediation and discussed the expanding social role of law to decide issues of social welfare and social service delivery. Since one result of the expanding role of law is an increase in the number of sociolegal disputes, the study noted that such disputes in the eyes of many experts may be more adequately resolved through mediation because of its orientation towards structuring the future relationship rather than creating adversaries. As mediation is already being used in areas of traditional social work practice, it was proposed that mediation is a social work response to sociolegal disputes. Thirty practicing mediators from several professional backgrounds, including social work, law and psychology were interviewed for the study. It was predicted that mediators, whatever their professional background, stating their perceptions of mediation purpose, objectives, interventions and values would, in fact, describe their work in terms of statements about social work purpose, objectives, interventions and values, thereby demonstrating the congruence of mediation and social work. The results showed significant consensus among the respondents that mediation and social work do share a common base of goals, interventions and values. The differences that emerged both within and among the three groups studied were for the most part difference of emphasis and interpretation rather than substance. The conclusion that mediation, as a growing part of the sociolegal future of social work, can be considered a specialization of social work practice has implications for the social work curriculum and are discussed in the study