This report describes the development, organization, and activities of the Massachusetts Children's Hearings Project, an experimental program set up by the Massachusetts Advocacy Center in August, 1980 to help parents and children solve family problems through mediation. Based on the Scottish Children's Hearings System, the Massachusetts program was designed as an alternative to the usual practice of dealing with status offenders and child abuse/child neglect cases through adversarial court proceedings. The hearing project involves bringing family members into a forum at which a panel of community volunteers mediates in a cooperative effort to discuss problems and agree on solutions. The report describes the steps involved in arranging hearings for families referred to the project by courts, schools, and social service agencies; the selection and characteristics of panel members; the hearing and mediation process and the types of issues addressed at hearings; the referral process; and the general outcomes of cases referred to the project between May, 1981 and April, 1982. The results of the referrals indicate that families have responded favorably to mediation and are willing to take on the responsibilities that mediated agreements require. Some case histories and sample agreements are presented in the report. (MJL)