Mediation and Advocacy Literature Review

Introduction

The human services professional, committed to helping, assists people in regard to improving the quality of their lives. The foremost intent of the mediation and advocacy process works to sustain people's needs while assisting them in attaining their goals and objectives. The human services professional, in regard to mediation and advocacy, dedicates him or herself to enhancing the attributes of service delivery by refining how other agencies and professionals mediate and advocate for the people. This paper will touch on three websites dedicated to mediation and advocacy within the profession of human services.

Victim Offender Mediation Association (VOMA)

The Victim Offender Mediation Association's (VOMA) mission promotes the practices and principles associated with restorative justice by allowing the victim the opportunity to face his or her offender. VOMA's influence on mediation and advocacy within the criminal justice system supports the victim's right to have a voice on his or her behalf after becoming a victim of crime. Because victims of crime may not have the emotional availability needed to speak on their behalf, a mediator or advocate's services may prove supportive as well as beneficial. The VOMA mediator or advocate is available during the mediation process to offer the victim as well as the offender the opportunity to discuss the effects of the criminal act on his or her lives as well as the feelings associated with the crime. This mediation or advocate process aids the victim by allowing him or her to seek closure and aids the offender by allowing him or her the opportunity to become responsible for his or her actions. The VOMA website offers a variety of information, such as: 1) a history of the VOMA, 2) links associated with other victim resources, 3) listings of national and international agencies, 4) articles, 5) websites of similar interest, 6) a calendar of VOMA events as well as other pertinent information associated with victim mediation and advocacy (Victim Offender Mediation Association (VOMA), 2010).

National Center for State Courts (NCSC)

The mission of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) website is to promote alternative dispute resolution as an efficient means of successfully resolving disputes in lieu of a trial. Alternative dispute resolution within state courts allows parties to dispute differences that suit their needs, such as: 1) reducing the expense related to court proceedings, 2) offering timely resolutions, and 3) receiving a higher level of satisfaction in regard to resolved issues. An alternative dispute resolution specialist, in regard to a case, hears and reviews the information needed to make decisions based on legal and factual information. However, court-connected alternative dispute resolution is a method of case disposition, and