Evaluating your mediation program can help you learn whether it has met its goals, but only if you decide up front what you want to evaluate and how you’ll go about doing so. The purpose of conducting an evaluation is “to answer practical questions of decision-makers and program implementors who want to know whether to continue a program, extend it to other sites, modify it, or close it down.¹

There are many different aspects of mediation that you can examine and evaluate. Keep track of how many mediators have been trained and how many hours of service they contribute each year. Also keep records of how many disputes they have mediated and whether those disputes ended with a signed agreement.

When evaluating your program, also examine the quality of every mediation session. Always ask for and secure feedback at the end of the session to find out what can be done to improve the process.

• Were participants satisfied with the outcome? Why or why not?

• What did they learn?
  
  
• What was helpful?
  
  
• Did the mediator succeed in helping the parties find an acceptable solution? If so, how? If not, why not?
  
  
• What were the mediator’s strengths and weaknesses?
  
  
• Would the disputants participate in mediation again? Why or why not

Lasting agreements are signs of success. Arrange to contact disputants 2 weeks or a month after they have signed an agreement. Ask them whether the conflict remains solved. Survey participants in past mediations as well.

When evaluating your program, also consider its effect on your community as a whole. Are there fewer fights in schools since your program started? Have disturbance complaints with your police department or sheriff’s office dropped? Are assault charges down? Do people in your school or neighborhood feel there has been less fighting in the hallways or in public places?

In evaluating your mediation program, also consider whether and how well it meets the following more general crime prevention goals:

• Reduces crime.
  
  
• Reduces fear of crime.
  
  
• Is cost effective.
  
  
• Has a lasting impact.
  
  
• Attracts support and resources.
  
  
• Makes people feel safe and better about being in your school or community.

Be sure to include an evaluation step in your overall plan. Learning to evaluate the things you do is a good skill, one you can apply to all aspects of your life. Ask yourself how you can better reach your goals, involve more people, and spread your message to a wider audience. Then, adjust your activities to strengthen your project.

Developing, carrying out, and evaluating a mediation project can help youth, children, and adults in your community. Good luck with mediation and — Resolve some conflicts!

Youth in Action Bulletin

March 2000     Number 15