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Provides dispute resolution by means of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and training. Types of disputes include but are not limited to: landlord/tenant; consumer/merchant; parent/teenager; employer/employee; neighbor/neighbor; family; divorce; parenting plans/property division; small claims court cases; and non-violent criminal cases.

Provides MEDIATION services only. Does NOT mediate dissolutions (divorce) or child custody matters. Does NOT offer any legal advice. Parties voluntarily negotiate the settlement of their disputes with an impartial third party. The parties decide the outcome of the mediation, rather than a judge or arbitrator. The mediator serves to guide the process, mediators are second- and third-year law students under the supervision of law faculty. Typical mediation cases include: - Buyer/Seller - Real Estate Issues - Consumer/Business - Co-workers - Employer/Employee - Housemates/Roommates - Landlord/Tenant - Neighbors - Student/Staff - General Civil Litigation

Mediators facilitate communication between two or more individuals who are in a disagreement in a safe, neutral environment.   The goal is to assist these individuals to come up with mutually agreed upon solutions to their problem, providing resolution of the issues.   This includes families, businesses, landlord/tenant, meetings/groups, neighborhoods, government, etc. Interpreters are provided if needed.

Provides mediation, facilitation, and other collaborative processes to resolve disagreements between parents and schools regarding children's educational programs and support services. Also, facilitates a variety of technical assistance services including training, data analysis, systems improvement, and resource development.

Facilitates a site where a wide range of community partners can come and offer their services, such as healthcare/insurance, education, job training, behavioral health, substance use disorder help and more. By coming together in one place, many different community service agencies are better able to collaborate. Examples of services available to court participants and all other community members, include: - Substance Use Disorder Assessment/Support - Mental Health Assessment/Support - Housing/Rental Assistance - Employment Assistance - GED/Education/Training Programs - Public Benefits such as Cash, Food ORCA, Utilities - Civil Legal Aid - Dispute Resolution & Mediation Services

Provides free, confidential and impartial coaching and negotiation help to landlords and tenants. Helps landlords and tenants negotiate alternatives to eviction, which may prevent expensive and burdensome eviction proceedings.

Assists people to avoid high legal costs and to solve problems in a quick and cost effective way. Provides support for mediation, pre-trial settlements, legal options, parenting plans, and landlord/tenant conflicts.

Program offers affordable parenting plan mediation sessions for parents who are going through divorce or dissolution, or wish to create or update a formal parenting plan.

Services are provided by trained professional mediators who volunteer their time. Services include: - Face-to-face mediation - Conflict coaching for problems - Some simple negotiation over the telephone TYPES OF PROBLEMS THE CENTER WILL HANDLE: - Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) - Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, eviction prevention due to COVID, etc. ) - Real estate or personal property - Foreclosure mediation - Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc. ) - Employer/employee grievances - School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents - Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans - Other domestic problems not involving violence, restraining orders, or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance. TYPES OF PROBLEMS NOT HANDLED: - Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits, criminal defenses, will preparation, etc. - Issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse - Problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager. All clients must be able to keep agreements made

The Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County offers mediation as a more peaceful alternative to litigation. If your wish is to avoid the court system, improve communication, or preserve or restore relationships, mediation is designed to do just that.  Clients that choose to use mediation still have the option of using the court system should the outcome of mediation not meet their needs.  What is Mediation?   An informal process where impartial mediators help people resolve a conflict.   Mediators facilitate, or guide, the conversation.   Parties talk about what is important to them in a safe setting.   A private and confidential process.   An opportunity to explore options not considered in the past.   A chance to develop realistic, workable solutions.   Clients control the outcome - reaching an agreement is voluntary.   The DRC does not provide legal advice, counseling services or tell people how to resolve their conflict in mediation services.   Who should use mediation?    Mediation is an excellent choice for clients who wish to have a say in the outcome of the conflict. Typical cases we hear involve; Divorce cases, creating or Modifying Parent Plans, family/interpersonal disputes, Neighborhood conflicts, Commercial disputes, Landlord and tenant disputes, Workplace conflicts, Contract negotiations, Large group facilitations, Communication agreements and more.

Provides comprehensive mediation services including small claims court referrals, parenting plans, rental housing mediation, and community mediation. Training offered for certification.

Services are provided by trained professional mediators who volunteer their time. Services include: - Face to Face Mediation - Coaching for problems - Some simple negotiation over the telephone TYPES OF PROBLEMS THE CENTER WILL HANDLE: - Divorce mediation - Parenting Plan mediation - Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) - Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, etc.) - Real estate or personal property - Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc.) - Employer/employee grievances - School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents - Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans - Other domestic problems not involving violence or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance TYPES OF PROBLEMS NOT HANDLED: Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits (criminal defenses, will preparation, etc.); issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse; or problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager. Other Services Provided: - Offers workshop of varying lengths to organizations, businesses, and groups on a range of topics including: conflict resolution, negotiation, communication, conflict styles, and dealing with difficult people. - Victim Offender Meeting Program: Brings together victims of juvenile crime with the offenders to talk about the impact of the crime and for the youth to make amends. - Assists senior citizens to resolve disputes with family members, businesses, landlords, neighbors and others through mediation. - Parent Youth Mediation Service: Allows parents and teenagers or pre-teens to sit down together to talk about how things are going within the family and develop agreements on behaviors, level of independence, respectful communication and consequences. Co-mediators assist the mediating parties.

People involved in a conflict meet with two skilled mediators for a 2-hour session. Without taking sides, mediators guide the parties through a process to resolve their conflict and reach a solution both of them can live with, resulting in successful resolution more than 80% of the time. Mediation can be used by: - Neighbors - Tenants and landlords - Homeowners facing foreclosure - Employees and supervisors - Work teams - Business owners and their customers - Divorcing couples - Parents developing parenting plans - Teens and their parents - Elders, their families and caregivers. Mediation does not prevent either party from taking further action such as filing a grievance, using arbitration or going to court.

Serves as the Administrative Agent to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington state to provide mediation services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).   Also serves in a similar capacity to the Department of Early Learning, Early Support for Infants and Toddlers providing mediation under Part C of the IDEA.    Works through mediation to resolve problems that involve -  Initial special needs identification of a student -  Evaluations of the student -  Educational placement of the student -  Educational services provided to a student.    Parents and school districts may invite any participants they believe will assist in the mediation.   Either the district or the parent may refuse to mediate, and there are occasions when parties are not able to reach an agreement. Mediation may not be used to delay or deny rights under IDEA or the right to proceed to a due process hearing.

Provides dispute resolution by means of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and training. Types of disputes include but are not limited to: landlord/tenant; consumer/merchant; parent/teenager; employer/employee; neighbor/neighbor; family; divorce; parenting plans/property division; small claims court cases; and non-violent criminal cases.

Facilitates a site where a wide range of community partners can come and offer their services, such as healthcare/insurance, education, job training, behavioral health, substance use disorder help and more. By coming together in one place, many different community service agencies are better able to collaborate. Examples of services available to court participants and all other community members, include: - Substance Use Disorder Assessment/Support - Mental Health Assessment/Support - Housing/Rental Assistance - Employment Assistance - GED/Education/Training Programs - Public Benefits such as Cash, Food ORCA, Utilities - Civil Legal Aid - Dispute Resolution & Mediation Services

Facilitates a site where a wide range of community partners can come and offer their services, such as healthcare/insurance, education, job training, behavioral health, substance use disorder help and more. By coming together in one place, many different community service agencies are better able to collaborate. Examples of services available to court participants and all other community members, include: - Substance Use Disorder Assessment/Support - Mental Health Assessment/Support - Housing/Rental Assistance - Employment Assistance - GED/Education/Training Programs - Public Benefits such as Cash, Food ORCA, Utilities - Civil Legal Aid - Dispute Resolution & Mediation Services

Offers an extended parent education program, including: -  12-week parenting and 12-week anger management Classes -  Parent coaching   -  Mediation -  Family dispute reconciliation - Extended parenting classes are 24 weeks; classes meet court requirements. Offers supervised visitation.  Offers a comprehensive 12-week online course that includes weekly interaction on ZOOM with a parent group, as well as an individual parent coach. Online course provides security, privacy, flexibility and accountability.

Provides voluntary confidential mediation to individuals, organizations and communities. Serves as an alternative or compliment to the judicial system, provides professional training in mediation and conflict resolution, and promotes the vital importance of peacefully resolving disputes. Provides assistance with the following issues: -  Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) -  Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, etc.) -  Real estate or personal property -  Foreclosure mediation -  Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc.) -  Employer/employee grievances -  School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents -  Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans -  Other domestic problems not involving violence or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance Does not assist with the following issues: -  Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits, criminal defenses, will preparation, etc. -  Issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse -  Problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager

Offers conflict resolution services designed to strengthen relationships between people and enhance problem-solving skills. Helps with conflicts such as barking dogs, property maintenance, noisy neighbors, HOA's, Boards, Community disputes. Cannot assist with divorce or parenting plans. Training is offered on a yearly basis. Conciliators are trained volunteers.

Provides mediation services for parenting plans, neighbor-to-neighbor, landlord-tenant, divorce, elder care, small claims, and foreclosure cases. Also provides dispute resolution services, training, and meeting facilitation in the workplace.

Facilitates communication (usually by phone) and serves as a "go-between" for those who feel they are not getting a response or being heard by an individual, Landord/Tenant, government agency, business, etc.

Provides mediation services, a tenant-landlord resolution program, and facilitation for those who choose to resolve their disputes in a non-adversarial and neutral environment. Mediation is a voluntary process that provides an opportunity and an environment for mutually and efficiently resolving conflicts in a private, safe, and positive environment. With the help of certified skilled mediators, parties share their views and have the opportunity to address important issues in a cooperative constructive way. Resolutions are created together and accepted by both parties that reflect the individual values and needs of both.

Mediation is one way that people can resolve their conflicts and still maintain or improve the quality of the relationship with the other person. In a family, a business environment, or in small towns, this can be especially important.   What you can expect in a mediation session:   Trained certified mediators to guide you through the mediation process and the expectation of the mediation   To keep the communication productive and focused on the issue the mediator will outline what it means to mediate in good faith   Time to tell all parties your story, how you feel, and how you would like to resolve the issues   Time to listen and hear the other parties’ stories, how they feel, and how they would like to resolve the issues   Work together to outline a list of items you would like resolved   Talk to each other and come to mutually agreeable solutions    Design your own settlement agreements that are long lasting   Mediation sessions can last up to 3 hours, and parties can schedule multiple session based on their own needs.    Parenting Plan Creation and Parenting Plan Modifications In the state of Washington, parents are required to have a "Parenting Plan" before a judge will grant a divorce.  In Mediation the parents can work together in the best interest of the children, work through historical issues, and work towards healthy communication and respectful relationship.  Additionally, parents will have the opportunity to design their parenting plan that looks to the future; identifying potential changes in their lives: i.e. new partners, residential transfers, children's changing needs.    When parents' communication is ineffective, children suffer in school, in peer relationships and in self-esteem. Unresolved conflict is expensive.   Business Mediations are an effective and efficient process to help resolve employment disputes. A neutral mediator can assist parties in reaching a voluntary, negotiated agreement. Choosing mediation to resolve employment disputes promotes a better work environment, reduces costs and brings satisfaction for both the employer and the employee.   According to Halvorson Human Resources, the cost of turnover ranges from approximately 3 months pay for an hourly worker to $145,000 for a hi-tech employee.  Conflict is expensive.  PDRC offers the following meditations: Family, Divorce, Parenting Plans, Foreclosure, Neighborhood, Workplace, Business, Landlord/Tenant

Mediation is an opportunity for people to have conversations and come to resolutions around the things that matter most to them. It's confidential, safe, effective, and open to anyone in Whatcom County. When you have a conflict and need help coming to an agreement, simply give us a call. At this time you can speak directly and confidentially to one of our case managers, ask questions, and get information about what to expect. If you choose to try mediation, we will contact the other party and assess their willingness to participate. With their consent, we will move forward to convene a mediation session for a day and time that works for both of you.  Our mediation services include small claims, community, commercial, foreclosure, family, youth, and parent-teen.