Women's Negotiation Program

PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED

The young mothers served by the five Boston-area Teen Living Programs consistently come from environments where the application of effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills are not the norm. These young women are often exposed to abuse within families and pervasive violence within communities. As an example, of the 19 families who moved into a shelter that MWI worked with in Fiscal Year 2003, 27% had been impacted by a family member’s addiction, 58% had been impacted by domestic violence, and 94% had survived physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. Unfortunately, these statistics have remained stable over time. As the abused become parents, they often take this pattern of violence and apply them to their interactions with their own children. This may include repeating the cycle of abuse and can lead to incarceration, domestic violence, poverty, or involvement of their children in the child protective services system. Negotiation training can provide these young parents with the conflict resolution skills necessary to be effective, caring parents, as well as to assist them in developing a strong voice for self-advocacy.

MWI'S APPROACH/METHODOLOGY

The Women’s Negotiation Program will enable the young mothers to utilize effective self-advocacy and conflict resolution skills within their families, communities and future workplace environments. Through training staff members to provide skill building workshops and support networks for negotiation and conflict resolution, we hope to improve the capacity of these shelters to empower their residents with essential life skills. These skills will enable residents to more effectively deal with government agencies, employers, educators and significant others with greater confidence, competence and ease on an on-going basis. Specifically, this program is designed to: Increase the level of equality in workforce compensation and opportunities; Enhance a core set of skills, enabling women to advocate for themselves more effectively; Equip girls and women with effective communication and conflict resolution skills; and support the independence of girls and women through educational programs that increase one’s confidence and competence.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Outcome One: Reduce the number of reported incidents of conflict between shelter residents and staff members.

• Outcome Two: Reduce the frequency and intensity of self-reported conflicts between teenage mothers and their children's fathers, work supervisors, teachers, and state workers (i.e. Department of Transitional Assistance, Department of Social Services).

• Outcome Three: Increase Residents’ abilities to effectively advocate for their interests in the community.

For more information about MWI's Women's Negotiation Program, please contact Chuck Doran, Executive Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 800-348-4888 x22.