Contact Us
Associate Director
BIRTH TO THREE early intervention MEDIATION AND FACILITATION PROGRAMS
Serving families with children receiving early intervention services
The Birth to Three Mediation and Facilitation Programs are statewide dispute resolution programs serving families with children receiving early intervention services in Delaware. These services are ideal for managing disputes involving any matter under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C, such as a child’s eligibility, classification, and interventions.​
This program is offered by the Conflict Resolution Program in cooperation withÌý.​
WHAT Is Mediation?
Mediation is a structured process in which anÌýimpartial third party helps families and the earlyÌýintervention team resolve differences regarding aÌýchild and family’s early intervention services.ÌýMediation encourages dialogue, problem solving,Ìýpositive relationships, and mutual trust.ÌýParticipants are able to share their concerns in aÌýconfidential and supportive environment.Ìý
Through constructive dialogue and joint problemÌýsolving, participants gain a more holistic view ofÌýthe problem and the solution that will best meetÌýthe needs of the child.
The participants, not the mediator, determine theÌýoutcome of mediation. If an agreement isÌýreached, the terms are documented and areÌýlegally binding. If an agreement is not reached,Ìýthe parties are free to pursue other avenues ofÌýdispute resolution.​
WHAT IS IFSP Team Meeting Facilitation?
IFSP team meeting facilitation is quickly​Ìýbecoming the most recognized strategy forÌýimproving the effectiveness and efficiency ofÌýIFSP meetings. Facilitated IFSP team meetingsÌýallow team members to focus on the child andÌýfamily’s early intervention services in aÌýcollaborative and respectful manner.
Prior to the IFSP team meeting, our trainedÌýfacilitators work with the family and the earlyÌýintervention team to create a comprehensiveÌýmeeting agenda. During the IFSP team meeting,Ìýthe facilitator guides the team through a processÌýof open dialogue and understanding aimed atÌýbuilding trust among all team members.
Through balanced participation and sharedÌýdecision-making, teams are better able to makeÌýdecisions that are in the best interest of the childÌýand family.
The facilitator is not a member of the IFSP teamÌýor an advocate for any person on the team. TheÌýfacilitator’s responsibility is to the whole team.​
Meet our Team
Ìý
​The Birth to Three Mediation and Facilitation Programs are administered through the 91Ô´´â€™s Conflict Resolution Program (CRP). The Program’s experienced mediators and facilitators specialize in early intervention dispute resolution. The program staff adhere to the highest standards of ethics, professional competence, and personal integrity. They are committed to providing confidential and impartial dispute resolution services to families and early intervention team who want to work together to resolve differences.
Mediators and facilitators create an environment that promotes constructive dialogue and collaborative decision making. They assist parties in communicating effectively, problem solving, and exploring mutually satisfying solutions.
Joy Jordan is an associate policy scientist and conflict resolution practitioner in the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) at the 91Ô´´. In this role, she assists in managing and implementing the statewide dispute resolution program known as SPARC. The SPARC team acts as a neutral third party to help parents and schools resolve differences they are experiencing regarding the education of students with special needs.
Joy is also responsible for creating training material, developing and delivering workshops to a variety of audiences, analyzing data, and assisting with writing marketing and website material. Joy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Drexel University; a certificate in Communications for Professionals from the University of Pennsylvania; and a certificate in Meeting and Events Planning from Temple University.​​
Sarah Marshall directs communications for the 91Ô´´â€™s Institute for Public Administration (IPA), in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. Sarah develops print and online resources for IPA’s public service and research projects, which span from education to regional planning and development. She has been teaching design workshops to non-technical audiences, from students to municipal clerks, for the past 10 years. Sarah guides the development of online professional development programs for government administrators and K–12 educators.
Sarah is a trained mediator and facilitator working with IPA’s Conflict Resolution Program. Sarah received her Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in design thinking and innovation from the 91Ô´´ in December 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and geography from Syracuse University. Sarah is a 2018 Leadership Delaware Fellow and 91Ô´´ Leveraging Equity And Diversity (LEAD) Ally.
Kathy Murphy is the Coordinator of the Conflict Resolution Program and Associate Director of the Institute for Public Administration at the 91Ô´´ (91Ô´´). She also has a secondary faculty appointment in the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at 91Ô´´. Ms. Murphy helped create Delaware's special education mediation program known as SPARC (Special Education Partnership for the Amicable Resolution of Conflict). She has more than twenty years of experience as a professional mediator and facilitator.
Ms. Murphy received advanced mediation training in special education, eldercare, issues of capacity, custody, and divorce from the Harvard Law Program on Negotiation, Elder Decisions, the Atlanta Center for Justice, Lehigh University, the American Arbitration Association, Mediation Matters, and the Montgomery County Mediation Center. She has a Master of Public Administration degree from the 91Ô´´ and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.
Contact Us
Birth to Three Mediation and Facilitation services are voluntary, confidential, and free of charge. Utilization of these services will not delay or deny any rights afforded under the IDEA Part C.​
For more information about Birth to Three Mediation and Facilitation services​ offered through the Conflict Resolution Program, contactÌý±è²¹°ù³Ù³¦-¾±²Ô´Ú´Ç​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹@³Ü»å±ð±ô.±ð»å³ÜÌýor 302-831-8158.​​​