Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-3866-6209
Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
Winter 1-2026
Abstract
The CMC Grant Program remains a vital statewide investment in equitable access to justice and community well-being in Massachusetts. In FY2025, the Commonwealth allocated $3,100,202 to the Program, with $2,376,002 awarded directly to 12 community mediation Centers for operational support, technical assistance, and participation in statewide initiatives. These funds continued to serve as the financial foundation of the community mediation system, accounting for half of Centers’ collective revenue and enabling them to leverage an additional $2,435,797 from private, municipal, state, and federal partners—demonstrating strong public return on state appropriations. Despite a funding reduction in FY2025, the Program generated nearly a tenfold return on the Commonwealth’s investment. That means each dollar cut or not invested likely forfeits multiple dollars in net economic benefit—creating a fiscal risk to the Commonwealth from continued underinvestment.
With this support, Centers advanced the Program’s statutory mission by delivering accessible, affordable, and community-based dispute resolution services across the Commonwealth. The HMP preserved hundreds of tenancies and housing subsidies, reducing eviction risk and stabilizing families and communities. ReMAp expanded communication and relationship-building supports for returning citizens, complementing statewide efforts to reduce recidivism. The Youth Program strengthened social-emotional and conflict management skills among students, reinforcing positive school climate and youth leadership development. Together, these statewide initiatives demonstrate the Program’s capacity to prevent costly system involvement and support long-term community resilience.
CMC Grant Program funding also sustained the infrastructure necessary for high-quality service delivery. Staffing levels remained stable, and Centers continued to identify salary and benefit funding as essential to workforce retention. Volunteer mediators, central to the Twelve-Point Model, remained a core service delivery asset, with Centers increasing recruitment, training, and mentorship efforts to maintain capacity despite fluctuations in active volunteer hours.
Centers continued expanding access to mediation through hybrid service delivery, flexible scheduling, increased service locations, and multilingual programming. Most cases continued to be offered at no cost, and sliding-scale options ensured affordability statewide. Outreach and education efforts reached more than half a million residents, and nearly 5,200 individuals participated in conflict resolution trainings, broadening public awareness and strengthening community conflict-management capacity.
The Program also advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion. Organizational capacity-building grants supported policy, staffing, assessment, and procedural reforms, while new expansion grants enabled Centers to build relationships and provide services in communities facing the highest structural barriers, including linguistically diverse and historically underserved neighborhoods. Mediator demographics remained consistent with prior years, and targeted recruitment strategies reflect continued commitment to ensuring that mediation services and practitioners reflect the populations they serve.
Service utilization remained strong and stable, with more than 4,000 new cases opened and 2,316 mediated statewide. Agreement rates remained high at 70%, and party satisfaction continued to exceed national norms: 92% of surveyed participants reported satisfaction, 93% would recommend mediation, and 84% preferred mediation over other dispute resolution options. These outcomes affirm mediation’s effectiveness, legitimacy, and community trust.
As the Program continues to demonstrate statewide impact, several priorities remain. Centers require sustained and increased funding to support staff retention, competitive compensation, and expanding program demand. Continued investment in data infrastructure, such as the Resolution Activity Manager (RAM) system, will further strengthen accountability, transparency, and long-term evaluation capacity. Ongoing support for DEI initiatives and service expansion will ensure equitable access to mediation across all regions and populations in the Commonwealth.
Overall, FY2025 findings reaffirm that the CMC Grant Program is a cost-effective, community-driven public service that prevents crises, strengthens families, reduces reliance on courts and emergency systems, and builds community capacity for constructive problem-solving. Continued commitment and investment from the Legislature will ensure that community mediation remains an accessible, trusted, and transformative resource for residents across Massachusetts.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Palihapitiya, Madhawa and Zeferino, Karina, "Massachusetts Community Mediation Center (CMC) Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2025 Evaluation Report" (2026). Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications. 45.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/mopc_pubs/45
Included in
Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Commons, Litigation Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Public Administration Commons, Public Affairs Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Policy Commons, Social Welfare Commons
Comments
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