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 various public trainings. Trainings are offered throughout the year. Visit the website for the current training calendar.

Conflict Resolution for Everyone (CoRE) provides a mediation training program for people who want to learn to be a mediator as well as conflict resolution skills for anyone who wants to learn better skills to use when they are in conflict.  Can also design customized workshops or training programs. Classes are often held online via Zoom with occasional in-person sessions in the community.

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.

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.

Washington State DSHS Approved Clock Hour Provider offering online training courses designed for those new to working with adults how have had a brain injury or wanting refresher courses.

Offers a variety of conflict resolution and communication trainings including regularly scheduled community trainings open to all. Also offers custom trainings for organizations and businesses.  

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

The Peer Mediation Program teaches students peaceful conflict resolution skills, while fostering understanding, respect, and cooperation in a multicultural world. Students gain valuable conflict resolution skills and cultural awareness through this training. At the beginning of the school year, students attend a 3-day immersive training. Afterwards, trained student mediators help resolve conflicts by guiding disputing students to find acceptable solutions. Referrals for mediation come from school administrators, teachers, counselors, or students. Cases are assigned by a faculty program coordinator. Right now, this program is live at Steven's Middle School.

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.

Offers trainings of varying lengths, from 20 minutes speaking at service club meetings to a 40-hour Basic Mediator Training class. Trainings can be tailored to the needs of those being trained (workplace, family, etc.).   Rates for the trainings vary - please call the office for more information.

The WDRC offers strength-based training designed to provide conflict resolution, communication, problem-solving, and de-escalation skills to youth. Students learn to recognize the root of conflict, strategies for resolving conflict, individual triggers, and physiological responses to anger. In our workshops, youth get the chance to practice active listening techniques, assertive speaking, and collaborative problem-solving skills. At the high school level, our trainings address the social context of violence including gender expectations, stereotypes, power and control, and how to be an ally. Our trainings are designed to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of individual students. The following trainings are offered in partnership with local schools, community agencies, and juvenile court and can be tailored to address additional topics based on your needs. The WDRC Youth Program has been providing workshops in K-12 schools, Juvenile Justice, and community settings since 2001. Our primary workshops are Healthy Choices (for girls grades 5-12), Facing Conflict (for boys grades 5-12), and Dealing with Conflict (for youth grades 5-12).

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

In addition to promoting and offering mediation as an alternate peaceful means of conflict resolution, Wenatchee Valley Dispute Resolution Center offers community education and training for individuals, groups, or organizations. Classes, workshops, and trainings are designed for educators, community leaders, attorneys, counselors, human resources staff, managers, parents, teens, and all parties interested in developing conflict resolution and communication skills.

Offers a monthly support group and workshops for women who have experienced abuse or trauma at any point in their lives. Women and children participate in a safe, affirming, and supportive community.

Supports peoples’ ability to engage in, manage, or productively resolve conflict. In this process, case managers will work one-on-one with a client experiencing conflict with another person. Conflict coaching enables the client to talk about the conflict with a neutral third party, consider options for managing the conflict, design an approach to discuss the conflict with the other person, practice communication techniques, and support people to find clarity in conflict and leave with a sense of next steps to take.

This highly interactive 40-hour training course is designed to acquaint trainees with the philosophy, model and specific skills needed in order to have a working knowledge of the role of a neutral mediator. The concepts and skills taught in this training are also easily transferable and are desired to improve communication and enhance relationships in all settings. The course is heavily experiential, being a mix of lecture, discussion, demonstration and participant role-playing with instructor and peer feedback. Approved for CLE credit through the Washington State Bar Association (36 credits). Also approved for Washington State Clock Hours for Educators (40 clock hours.)

Provides conflict resolution workshops including communication skills training.