THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF MEDIATION IN CHILD PROTECTION CASES

This study explores the process of mediation used in the context of ch ild protection mediation. The general aims of this study are to explor e aspects of mediation which are unique to this process, and to identi fy mediative processes which could be used effectively in other types of child protection interventions. The primary source of data is deriv ed from interviews with child protection workers, mediators, parents a nd other family members who participated in mediation. The introductio n of mediators in the child protection process was found to alter the dynamics and change the nature of the discourse between child protecti on workers and family members. However, other child protection service providers could employ many aspects of mediation.