Supporting Families Through Conflict: JAMS Foundation and NAFCM Launch Mini-Grant Program

The JAMS Foundation and National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) are launching the 2026-2028 Community Mediation Mini-Grant Program, awarding up to five organizations $15,000 per year to develop preventive approaches using community mediation skills to de-escalate family conflict during critical transitions like substance abuse treatment, assisted living moves, or mental health services navigation. Grant recipients will participate in a structured Learning Community facilitated by NAFCM using the Listening for Action Leadership Process, meeting twice monthly for the first six months and monthly thereafter to share challenges, test approaches, and develop replicable resources while creating at least one policy or procedure change over the two years for lasting systemic impact. This collaborative model emphasizes deep listening, collaborative problem-solving, community co-creation, and attention to power dynamics—principles aligned with NCDD values—with all materials shared across the broader field to strengthen community mediation practice nationally and internationally, creating pathways for families to work through disagreements collaboratively before they escalate into formal legal proceedings or institutional interventions.

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​Family transitions—a loved one entering substance abuse treatment, a parent moving to assisted living, navigating mental health services—often bring stress, disagreement, and conflict. These moments of vulnerability can fracture relationships precisely when families need unity and support most. Yet formal interventions like court proceedings or institutional decision-making can further strain already fragile family bonds. The JAMS Foundation and National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) are launching a new initiative to help families navigate these critical transitions with greater autonomy, harmony, and collaborative problem-solving.
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The 2026-2028 Community Mediation Mini-Grant Program will award up to five organizations $15,000 per year to develop preventive approaches that use community mediation skills to de-escalate family conflict during transition points. Rather than waiting for disputes to reach crisis levels or require court intervention, this program emphasizes early engagement—creating pathways for families to work through disagreements collaboratively before they escalate into formal legal proceedings or institutional interventions.

A Learning Community Approach to Field-Building

What sets this initiative apart is its commitment to collective learning and systemic change. Grant recipients won't simply implement isolated programs—they'll participate in a structured Learning Community facilitated by NAFCM that meets twice monthly for the first six months and monthly thereafter. This collaborative model creates space for practitioners to share challenges, test approaches, refine strategies, and develop resources that can be replicated by community mediation centers across the continent.

The program uses NAFCM's Listening for Action Leadership Process, which guides organizations through environmental scans, small group conversations, and values-based strategy development. This approach aligns closely with dialogue and deliberation principles that NCDD practitioners will recognize: deep listening, collaborative problem-solving, community co-creation of responses, and attention to power dynamics and inclusion. Grant recipients must develop at least one policy or procedure change over the two-year period, ensuring that their work creates lasting systemic impact rather than temporary programmatic additions. All materials developed through these grants will be shared with the broader field, strengthening community mediation practice nationally and internationally.
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Ready to explore how community mediation can support families during critical transitions? Learn more about the JAMS Foundation-NAFCM Mini-Grant Program and register for the January 26 informational webinar at https://nafcm.org/news/572227/JAMS-Foundation-NAFCM-Solicitation-of-Interest--2026-2028.htm