In early 1985, at the height of the farm crisis, Founder Mike Thompson began talks with the Attorney General's Office and various political connections within Iowa agriculture about instituting a farm mediation program to assist with the enormous number of foreclosures on Iowa farms. During this time of exploration, on December 9th, 1985, a catastrophic farm-business event springboarded Iowa’s legislature to mandate an agricultural mediation program applicable when specific criteria were met. The events shook Iowa and the nation, so Iowa Mediation Service (IMS) was provided a unique opportunity to support individuals and businesses during this highly stressful time.
As a result, Iowa became the first state in the nation to institute a statewide agricultural mediation program. IMS, known at the time as Iowa Farmer/Creditor Mediation Service, has been the only mediation service in the state to facilitate the mandatory farm mediation program ever since. At that time, there were seven regional offices around the state, with headquarters in Des Moines, blocks from the state capital building.
When this legislation passed on May 6th, 1986, many leaders opposed it because they did not understand mediation as a viable option. In fact, one lender submitted over 1600 mediation requests in a single week to derail the process. However, once Iowans saw the effectiveness of mediation in resolving these disputes, one of our biggest opponents became one of our largest supporters. Although the farm crisis would persist well into 1989, the positive impact on the agricultural industry in Iowa was evident.
As a result, Iowa became the first state in the nation to institute a statewide agricultural mediation program. IMS, known at the time as Iowa Farmer/Creditor Mediation Service, has been the only mediation service in the state to facilitate the mandatory farm mediation program ever since. At that time, there were seven regional offices around the state, with headquarters in Des Moines, blocks from the state capital building.
When this legislation passed on May 6th, 1986, many leaders opposed it because they did not understand mediation as a viable option. In fact, one lender submitted over 1600 mediation requests in a single week to derail the process. However, once Iowans saw the effectiveness of mediation in resolving these disputes, one of our biggest opponents became one of our largest supporters. Although the farm crisis would persist well into 1989, the positive impact on the agricultural industry in Iowa was evident.
To learn more about the 80's Farm Crisis by watching this pbs Documentary. |
Since the 1990s, IMS has been crucial in addressing various issues affecting Iowans. The organization's involvement in resolving Hedge-to-Arrive (HTA) contract disputes showcased its ability to mediate complex agricultural conflicts across state lines and helped over 150 farms and co-ops.
Building on this success, IMS expanded its reach to child welfare services. The organization brought together diverse stakeholders through facilitated group meetings to create unified plans for children's safety and well-being. In the mid-1990s, IMS shifted its focus to tackle bullying in schools and communities. Programs like Students Turning on Positive Power (STOPP), Gateway Resolution Opportunities (GRO), and Young Peacemakers Club were instrumental in developing curricula to reduce bullying behaviors and strengthen family ties.
Throughout its history, IMS has demonstrated excellence in managing community and business disputes. The organization's neutral interventions were particularly valuable during school district consolidations, helping communities navigate emotional changes. Additionally, IMS's expertise extended to educational institutions, where it provided mediation services for various conflicts, including truancy issues and student disputes.
Building on this success, IMS expanded its reach to child welfare services. The organization brought together diverse stakeholders through facilitated group meetings to create unified plans for children's safety and well-being. In the mid-1990s, IMS shifted its focus to tackle bullying in schools and communities. Programs like Students Turning on Positive Power (STOPP), Gateway Resolution Opportunities (GRO), and Young Peacemakers Club were instrumental in developing curricula to reduce bullying behaviors and strengthen family ties.
Throughout its history, IMS has demonstrated excellence in managing community and business disputes. The organization's neutral interventions were particularly valuable during school district consolidations, helping communities navigate emotional changes. Additionally, IMS's expertise extended to educational institutions, where it provided mediation services for various conflicts, including truancy issues and student disputes.
In 2008, during the height of the housing crisis across the nation, IMS partnered with a coalition consisting of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Iowa Finance Authority, and housing counselors across the state to form the Iowa Mortgage Help Hotline. For more than six years, thousands of Iowa families were assisted in keeping their homes through loan modifications of their subprime mortgages. The organization's impact continued in the mental health sector, facilitating collaboration among various stakeholders to implement legislative changes and improve crisis services.
In 2015, IMS expanded its services to include human resources, business, and academic fields. Through these efforts, IMS created and maintained lasting relationships with the USDA and the Coalition of Agricultural Mediation Program. Mechanisms were developed for IMS to broaden beyond Iowa agriculture, which opened doors and allowed IMS to help people in other fields, such as organizational development, higher education, and succession planning. IMS is uniquely qualified to help individuals and groups work through contemporary issues encountered during challenging situations. While serving as the Executive Director, Kiley authored two books, Conflict Imagery: Developing a reflective framework and Discovering Self-Imagery: Weekly reflections to develop a purposeful identity. These books are used in conjunction with the various public speaking events to which Kiley is invited to help demonstrate the multiple ways IMS can help empower individuals and groups.
To learn more about Kiley's Books click on the button |
In 2023, IMS piloted efforts for a Restorative Justice program that was later introduced at a county level in 2024. During this time, IMS also began exploring ways to support the unique challenges within the veteran and military communities. With regional coverage across Iowa and a headquarters in West Des Moines, the programs offered by IMS staff and contractors undergo continual expansion efforts. Throughout its 40-year history, IMS has demonstrated many remarkable ways of serving local, state, and national conflict management initiatives, which will continue well into the future.