The Impact and Expansion of the Dayton Mediation Response Unit
I want to share an update about a unique City of Dayton program Launched in May 2022. The Dayton Mediation Response Unit (MRU) is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States that sends two-person teams of mediation specialists instead of police officers to certain kinds of calls for service.
The Dayton Mediation Response Unit helps people who are struggling to communicate in productive ways and who need help figuring out potential ways to address their concerns. These unarmed mediation specialists, well trained in addressing conflict, make up the service teams. When they arrive on scene, they separate the parties and listen to understand the situation. The mediation program uses a “transformative” approach meant to help people in conflict address conflict together and on their own.
Dayton Mediation Response Unit Supervision of Parent Visitation Exchanges
Click here to a link to the article I posted here on May 5, 2023. The focus of that blog dealt with Dayton Mediation Response Unit members supervising parent visitation exchanges.
Parents can call the MRU directly at 937-333-2333 and request child exchanges during the hours of 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday or callers can … Read More... “Dayton’s Mediation Response Unit Continues to Expand its Services to Assist in Reducing Conflicts. Might They be of Help in a Situation You are Experiencing?”
On December 10, 2010, I visited Erma’s House in Dayton, Ohio in order to gain information to write an article about the Visitation Center for Montgomery County, Ohio. On December 23, 2013, I had the opportunity to visit and tour the Greene County Family Visitation Center located at 143 East Market Street, Xenia, Ohio 45385 to learn about the services provided by the Family Visitation Center. I had the privilege to meet and spend time with Libby Powers, Program Coordinator and Mediator for the Family Visitation Center. The Family Visitation Center is located in a former two (2) story residence which provides the facility with a “homey” atmosphere and a warm/friendly environment.
On Thursday, October 18, 2012, I had the opportunity to visit the Haines Children’s Center located at 3304 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio, to meet with Ann Stevens, Public Information Coordinator of the 
Alternative dispute resolution can be a wonderful tool in divorce cases. Montgomery County’s Domestic Relations Court, along with many other divorce Courts, have adopted mediation conferences as a voluntary or, in some cases, mandatory prerequisite to trial. I am focusing this article on how that process works in Montgomery County.
Have you ever had a dispute with that grumpy neighbor next door or across the hall to the point that the two of you were ready to exchange words…or blows? Ever have a dispute with a shady landlord who was trying to evict you for no good reason? Have you ever had intense disagreements with your family members over when or where to send one of your elderly parents after it became just too hard to provide proper care for that parent at home anymore? If you can answer “yes“ to those or to any other stress inducing interpersonal conflict you may have, resolving that conflict at the Dayton Mediation Center is an option you may not have known was available.
On December 13, 2010, I had the opportunity to visit and tour Erma’s House, a Family Visitation Center, located at 1046 Brown Street, Dayton, Ohio. I had the privilege to meet with Peggy Seboldt, Director of Erma’s House, and Shannon Wahrhaftig, Co-Program Coordinator. During the meeting and tour of the facility, it was so very apparent to me that both employees are totally dedicated to the mission of the Visitation Center and that both are committed to their work at the Center.