Susquehanna Valley Mediation, Inc.

What Susquehanna Valley Mediation, Inc. does

Susquehanna Valley Mediation, Inc. (SVM) is a nonprofit community mediation center founded in 2010 and headquartered in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, serving Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties. The organization delivers mediation, facilitation, restorative practices, and education using the Transformative Model of Mediation, a structured framework grounded in four premises about each party's unique reality, inherent needs for advancement and connection, decision-making capacity, and capacity to look beyond themselves. SVM's service portfolio spans court-ordered custody mediations, the Kids First educational program for divorcing parents, self-referred family and neighbor mediations, landlord/tenant mediations, prison reentry and reintegration support, Families in Recovery support groups, the Family Engagement Initiative (Crisis/Rapid Response and Plan of Safe Care meetings), Thrive Corps teen support, Story Circles, and Civic Conversations.

SVM operates with six paid staff and 54 volunteer mediators who contributed 3,400+ hours in 2025, supplemented by 15 volunteer story circle facilitators and 120 newly trained facilitators. Delivery occurs through two owned offices (Selinsgrove headquarters at 713 Bridge Street and Lewisburg at 480 Hafer Rd), virtual sessions, and community venues including the Public Library for Union County, First Presbyterian Church, and Walking Free Clubhouse. As of 2025 the organization reports 3,517 cumulative mediation cases since 2011, with 129 mediations, 62 rapid response family meetings serving 529+ participants, 35 story circles, and 54 prison reentry assists conducted in the year.

The revenue model combines low transaction fees ($25 per party for court-ordered and self-referred mediations, $15 per party for Kids First, free for prison reentry), $1,000 mediator training tuition for non-volunteers, government/county support from Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties and courts, and tax-deductible donations routed through Donorbox. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on county court referrals, partnerships with Children and Youth Services, United Way, Community Action Agency, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, and PA Humanities, plus grassroots outreach via Facebook, newsletters, events, and word-of-mouth. Services are explicitly available to everyone regardless of ability to pay, with court fee waivers rendering services free for qualifying participants.

Name

Susquehanna Valley Mediation, Inc.

Legal name

Susquehanna Valley Mediation

Website

https://svmediation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Susquehanna Valley Mediation is a nonprofit community mediation center serving Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties in Pennsylvania, delivering the Transformative Model of Mediation plus recovery, reentry, youth, and civic dialogue programs through court referrals, county partnerships, and a 54-volunteer mediator corps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mediation Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Community mediation services
• Family conflict resolution
• Transformative mediation
• Custody mediation programs
• Prison reentry support

Headquarters

HQ city

Selinsgrove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Court-Ordered Mediation Fees: Fee-based service for court-ordered custody mediations at $25 per party, with free service for those qualifying for court fee waivers.
2. Self-Referred Mediation Fees: Fee-based mediation sessions at $25 per session for individuals voluntarily seeking mediation services.
3. Kids First Program Fees: Educational program for parents going through divorce/separation at $15 per party, free for those qualifying for court fee waiver.
4. Government/County Support: Funding and support from Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties and courts to offer reduced-price services and serve the community.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from donors supporting the nonprofit mission of making mediation accessible regardless of ability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Susquehanna Valley Mediation is a nonprofit community mediation center that delivers mediation, facilitation, education, and support programs to help individuals, families, organizations, and communities address conflict. Its central service is court-ordered and self-referred mediation grounded in the Transformative Model of Mediation, complemented by specialized programs such as Kids First (parent education), Families in Recovery, Prison Reentry Mediations, Family Engagement Initiative, Thrive Corps (teen support), Story Circles, Civic Conversations, Landlord/Tenant Mediation, and Facilitated Dialogue.

Product overview

Susquehanna Valley Mediation is a nonprofit community mediation center serving Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties in Pennsylvania. The organization operates as a unified service platform offering multiple mediation and community support programs. The core offering is the Transformative Model of Mediation, which is delivered through distinct programs including Court-Ordered Custody Mediations, Kids First Program, Landlord/Tenant Mediation, and Self-Referred Mediations. Complementing the mediation services are specialized community programs: Families in Recovery (supporting those affected by addiction), Prison Reentry Mediations, Family Engagement Initiative (Crisis/Rapid Response meetings), Thrive Corps (teen support groups), Story Circles (community storytelling), and Civic Conversations (civic dialogue facilitation). Services are available in-person at offices in Selinsgrove and Lewisburg, as well as virtually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Court-Ordered Custody Mediations Court-mandated mediation for families going through divorce or custody disputes in Snyder and Union counties, using the Transformative Model of Mediation. Priced at $25 per party; free for participants qualifying for a court fee waiver.
• Kids First Program Educational program using the 'Kids First: Children Coping with Divorce & Family Conflict' curriculum to help parents understand how conflict impacts their children and what they can do to help. Priced at $15 per party; free for those qualifying for a court fee waiver.
• Landlord/Tenant Mediation Mediation service connecting renters and landlords with rental assistance information, legal information, and professional mediation to prevent evictions and promote financial stability, supported by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.
• Self-Referred Mediations Voluntary mediation services available to anyone for any type of dispute, including family conflicts, eldercare conversations, neighbor disagreements, and business disputes. Priced at $25 per session.
• Facilitated Dialogue Community dialogue facilitation service helping groups have difficult conversations and learn to discuss disagreements constructively.
• Prison Reentry Mediations Free voluntary program supporting individuals transitioning back into the community after incarceration, offering reentry planning, resource navigation, and Stopping Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) classes, enabled by support from county courts and probation departments.
• Families in Recovery Recovery support program serving those in recovery as well as family and loved ones of those with Substance Use Disorder, including support groups, education, family mediation sessions, and sober events.
• Family Engagement Initiative Statewide initiative supporting collaboration between judiciary and child welfare agencies, facilitating Crisis/Rapid Response meetings and Plan of Safe Care meetings for families involved with the child welfare system. SVM has participated since 2018.
• Thrive Corps Confidential teen support group serving Union and Snyder Counties, dedicated to meeting teenagers navigating personal challenges or broader family struggles related to addiction, incarceration, or behavioral challenges.
• Story Circles Community storytelling program using the practice developed by John O'Neal to build civic empathy and connect people through storytelling, held at libraries, schools, and community centers.
• Civic Conversations Monthly civic discussion facilitation at the Public Library for Union County where participants practice curious questions and active listening while discussing current events.
• Mediator Training Training program to become a community mediator. Free for local community members who commit to serve as active volunteer mediators for at least two years; limited training slots available for non-volunteers at $1,000 tuition, with partial scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of Kids First participants reported learning how conflict impacts their children and how they can help
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Susquehanna Valley United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVUW provides funding support enabling SVM to offer a variety of trainings and programs. The United Way fights for health, education, and financial stability in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union Counties.
• Snyder-Union Community Action AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVM collaborates with CAA on several task forces and supports their mission of reducing poverty through self-sufficiency initiatives. Jointly developed the 'Reentering Your Community' resource guide in June 2025.
• Snyder County CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth custody mediations and prison reentry mediations are possible through support from the courts and probation department.
• Union County CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth custody mediations and prison reentry mediations are possible through support from the courts and probation department.
• Children and Youth ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVM's Crisis/Rapid Response Meetings empower families in crisis and promote healing under the Family Engagement Initiative led by the Office of Children and Families in the Courts.
• Selinsgrove Area Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVM's peer mediation program teaches students to handle conflict constructively at the middle school level.
• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM)minorOthersSVM is proud to be part of NAFCM, a national association supporting community mediation centers across the United States.
• Institute for the Study of Conflict TransformationminorOthersSVM is proud to be part of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, which focuses on transformative mediation practices.
• Office of Children and Families in the CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVM participates in the Family Engagement Initiative (FEI) since 2018, led by OCFCT, supporting collaboration between judiciary and child welfare agencies to strengthen family involvement.
• Public Library for Union CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVM partners with the Public Library for Union County to host Civic Conversations and Story Circles, bringing community members together for dialogue.
• Housing Alliance of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Housing Alliance supports the landlord/tenant mediation program to prevent evictions and promote long-term financial stability for landlords.
• PA HumanitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPA Humanities supports Story Circles throughout the valley, providing funding for storytelling programs that give every story a chance to be shared.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services): Largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in the US, offering mediation, arbitration, and other ADR services. JAMS is a broad incumbent in the same dispute resolution space as SVM, but operates on a paid commercial model rather than nonprofit sliding-scale.

Others

• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM): National membership association for community mediation centers of which SVM is a member. NAFCM provides training, resources, and advocacy for the community mediation sector, of which SVM is a part.
• Mediate.com: Online directory and information resource for mediation services, with directories of community mediation centers. Closely adjacent to SVM's space as an enabling/information platform for the mediation field.
• Pennsylvania Council of Mediators: Statewide professional association supporting mediators and mediation practice in Pennsylvania, providing training, networking, and standards relevant to SVM's professional development and visibility within the PA mediation community.

Direct peers

• Lehigh Valley Conflict Resolution Center: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit community mediation and conflict resolution center providing court-referred mediations, restorative practices, and community education, comparable in mission and service model to SVM.
• Center for Community Dialogue: Nonprofit organization providing community-based mediation, restorative practices, and dialogue facilitation services, with comparable program offerings to SVM's self-referred mediation and civic conversation initiatives.
• The Conflict Center (Denver, CO): Nonprofit community mediation and conflict resolution organization offering mediation, restorative justice, and youth programs with a similar nonprofit service model and community-embedded approach.
• Resolution Services of Central Pennsylvania: Central Pennsylvania community mediation center offering similar court-referred and self-referred mediation services, dispute resolution, and restorative justice programs across an overlapping Pennsylvania geography.
• Community Mediation Services (St. Louis): Established nonprofit community mediation center providing court-referred mediations, youth and family services, and conflict resolution training, comparable in mission and program structure to SVM.
• The Resolution Center (Grand Rapids, MI): Nonprofit community mediation center providing court-referred and community mediations, restorative justice, and conflict resolution education, with a comparable service portfolio to SVM.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SVMediationCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-susquehanna-valley-mediation-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Susquehanna Valley Mediation, Inc.