Fairfield Center is proud to announce that its executive director, Timothy Ruebke, is now a Federal Emergency Management Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist. This designation makes Ruebke available to implement mediation and other conflict resolution techniques in emergency and disaster-stricken areas anywhere in the nation.  He will continue to serve as executive director of Fairfield, and respond on an as-needed basis upon the request of FEMA.

FEMA describes the mediator role Ruebke will play: “The third-party neutral keeps the parties focused and constructive in their discussions.  Unlike a judge or jury, the third-party neutral does not have decision-making authority nor the power to impose a resolution on the dispute.  Rather, the neutral works with the parties to facilitate communication, identify underlying issues, explore options, and craft a mutually satisfying solution” (Source: FEMA).

This is natural work for Ruebke, who has worked at Fairfield Center since 1992 and completed over 1500 cases in general, family, criminal, and complex organizational / multi-party issues.  He is certified to mentor-mediate Virginia civil and family Virginia circuit court cases, and is an advanced practitioner member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and a previous board member of the Virginia Mediation Network (VMN) and of the Restorative Justice Association of Virginia (RJAV).  Ruebke has graduate degree in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University.

Timothy Ruebke, Fairfield's executive director, is now a FEMA Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist.

FEMA cites effective results for using mediation.  ”Federal Agency results using mediation to resolve disputes have been phenomenal with impressive time savings, cost avoidance, and resolution and satisfaction rates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Treasury have experienced an overall dispute resolution rate of about 82% with 83% of the Treasury disputes resolved within 25 days. The Department of Agriculture estimated its savings attributable to ADR in staff resources and investigative and litigation costs to exceed $1,000,000 over the last two years. The Postal Service reported mediation satisfaction rates in the high 90s for both participants. The EEO Commission tracked 11,600 cases and reported satisfaction rates of over 90% for all participants” (Source: FEMA).

Even the strongest and closest families can have moments of stress and conflict. From time to time, conflict can be between siblings, parents and siblings, parents themselves, uncles and aunts – and at any age.  A family conflict can be particularly stressful and draining, because we can’t just walk away – it’s family.  

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the conflict and the capacity of those involved, it may be that a mediation could help reduce the tension, improve communication, and create a plan for moving forward.

Are you in a family conflict?  Would you like information about whether mediation might be a useful tool?  Fill out this brief survey or call us directly at (540) 434-0059 and a Fairfield staff member will contact you for a completely confidential conversation about how mediation might work for you.

See a flyer about Fairfield’s upcoming two-part training on Handling Differences and Disagreements in Congregations (PDF) .  Register below!

Are tensions mounting in your congregation?  Have you been through some painful conflict and wish things had gone differently? Do you foresee potential difficulties ahead in dealing with the differences in your congregation? This is a natural part of growth for any community – and congregations are no different!

Sometimes, religious organizations and leaders shy away from conflict in fears that its recognition or exposure might present a weakness to the community or outsiders.  This can become costly, in time, money, and morale.

In nearly 30 years, the Fairfield Center has mediated conflicts between people, families, businesses, clients, and more.  Nearly all clents have experienced at least some of the following benefits of using mediation to resolve a dispute:

1. You save time: We schedule mediations in terms of days, not weeks or months, which lets everyone move forward.
2. You save money: Compared to courts fees and lawyer costs, mediation is a big money saver!
3. You can talk: A professional mediator will make sure you are heard and understood
4. You decide together: In a mediation, you and the other people involved get to develop an agreement together, after you each have time to talk, listen and explore options.
5. Your decision sticks: Because it’s your own decision, the decision is more likely to be carried out (in many cases, even more likely than court-ordered decisions!).
6. You can listen: A professional mediator will also make sure other people in the situation are heard and understood
7. You get results: 85-90% of the cases mediated at the Fairfield Center are resolved!
8. Your confidentiality is protected: Your privacy is our professional concern, and we protect it.
9. You get clarity: Having time to talk and listen can help build understanding that can lead to exploring options and coming to agreement
10. You preserve relationships: What difference would it make to resolve a conflict with a neighbor, friend, family member, girlfriend, husband, or co-worker?

Additional Benefits and Outcomes:

1. Helps students to achieve a higher level of self-worth and a sense of accomplishment
2. Facilitates better communication within families and builds partnerships between families and schools
3. Contributes to a healthier home and school environment
4. Provides schools with an alternative method for reducing poor attendance
5. Provides a model of communication that is positive, respectful, and honest
6. Reducing truancy can help to prevent more serious problems like vandalism, drug abuse, and gang association.
7. Demonstrates that there are many solutions to a problem and allows individuals to look at problems as challenges
8. Breaks down misunderstandings and builds a sense of respect and openness among parties
9. Clarifies ways the solution could change and identifies steps for making changes
10. Acknowledged by educators and truancy officers as an effective tool

Contact Us

We can answer your questions and discuss how Truancy Mediation might apply to your situation.