Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Family Mediation Pilot topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Circuit Court to pilot family mediation for non‑married parents with $2,100 grant funding
Summary
The Justice Committee approved an emergency appropriation to fund a short pilot of family mediation for non‑married parents, using a $2,100 grant to mediate up to seven cases between May 1 and June 30 and report results to the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts’ access-to-justice program.
The McLean County Justice Committee approved an emergency appropriation May 7 to fund a brief pilot that will pay mediators to handle family cases involving non‑married parents.
Circuit Court staff said the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), through its access‑to‑justice program, offered a small grant that would allow mediation in an estimated seven cases between May 1 and June 30. Circuit Court representatives told the committee the grant provides $300 per case and that the county would not be obligated to continue the program beyond the state fiscal year if the pilot is not continued.
The court described the targeted docket as cases largely involving child custody and support where the parents were never married; staff said these matters often become lengthy because parties do not share a household and are more adversarial. A third‑party mediator, the court said, can propose solutions and help parties reach agreements that otherwise would be drawn out before a judge.
Member Burns moved to approve the emergency appropriation ordinance, seconded by Member Roseman; the chair announced the motion approved. The court said it will submit case results and participant feedback to the AOIC to inform whether the mediation approach should be expanded.
