The Heterogeneity of the Socio-Educative Mediation in the Intervention with Debilitated Families: Cases in Study

Abstract

Mediation, a relatively new field in Portugal, has been contributing innovatively to professional practices, becoming increasingly attractive in various contexts of action. Taking into account the various fields of work, it is important to consider that mediation might be beneficial in collaborating the processes of promotion and protection of the families of children at social risk. Here, the mediation devices become a collaborative resource to be used with these families. The present work has been developed for nine months, as an integral part of the practical training curriculum of the Masters in Education programme, with specialization in Educational Mediation and Supervision of Professional Training. This practical training was developed at The Commission of Protection of Children and Youth, in a rural area in the North of Portugal. The methodology used is qualitative, through the development of a research-action, where the case study was the privileged method. Our aim is to present the several themes used with some of the families in the field of mediation. This form of intervention and monitoring is not commonly practiced in this organization. However, it is possible to motivate a successful transformation in these families. Mediation in these debilitated conditions assumes the function of stimulating the opportunity of creating more stable family environments, contributing to their successful phycho-social development. The success of the process is attributed to the families that participated in the mediation, with the goal that everyone emerges a winner.