Mediation Services For Anoka County

Programs: Mediation services for anoka county (msac) launched a pilot project to assist community seniors to resolve conflict in community living. Our organization continues to support community and conciliation court mediations in anoka, isanti, and chisago counties. Throughout 2017 we have expanded our restorative justice work in juvenile corrections and our partnerships with local schools. Msac had a 246% increase in youth served in 2017. Msac received 658 referrals from residence throughout anoka county serving 813 parties. Msac continues to expand conciliation court mediation to isanti and chisago county (community, shared parenting/post dissolution, and restorative justice). Msac continues to be a leader in exploring a more aggressive 'virtual mediation' approach to be able to serve parties in areas too far away from our offices and 'service area'. Msac is an active member of community mediation minnesota, the first state-wide mediation organization. Our organization continues to work with 5 different school districts within anoka county to provide opportunities to better understand and implement restorative practice and mediation. Msac has been in 19 different schools throughout 2017 responding to juvenile diversion cases from juvenile corrections and developing the capacity for training and delivery. School districts are requesting such service and we are interested in responding to this demand. Msac staff and volunteers are responding to the needs of the elderly within anoka county. We will continue to reach out and inform them of our services and work with the various organizations such as margaret place (mary t's), great river management and amanda vickstrom with minnesota elder justice center. Msac has begun to create programming for direct work with landlords and tenants continues to establish both pre-eviction and post unlawful-detainer mediations.