decisions about permanent placement for youth in foster care

decisions about permanent placement for youth in foster care-Mediation is a voluntary process that allows the involved parties to work with a neutral third-party to come to an agreement on a permanent home in the best interests of the child. Mediation can help parties avoid court hearings that ultimately decide the fate of the child.

divorce issues

Divorce Issues-For couples in the process of divorce, a mediator’s role is to help both spouses identify, and come to a mutually-acceptable agreement on the various issues such as financial matters, parenting time, or division of assets. 

child custody/parenting time

Child Custody/Parenting Time- Child custody mediation is a process in which parents work together to develop a plan to parent their child after divorce or separation. Mediation lets the parents decide their own plan versus having a court making the decision..

disputes about individual education pLANS (SPECIAL EDUCATION)

Disputes AboutIn Individual Education Plans (special education)-IEP mediation is designed to be a less confrontational process of resolution than court hearings, meant to assist parents and the school district in reaching a compromise on special education plans for students.

general civil court actions (pre-& post filing)-A neutral third-party facilitator works to

get the parties to compromise and voluntarily reach a settlement.  The mediator may work out a partial or full settlement with the parties, or in some cases, no settlement, and in that situation the case would proceed to trial.

general civil court actions (pre-&post filing)

Neighborhood Conflicts- Through the mediation process, neighbors get a clearer picture of their interests and the interests of their fellow neighbor to find a solution to their dispute that works for everyone involved. 

neighborhood conflicts

estate planning & family decisions about care of elderly parents

estate planning & family decisions about care of elderly parents-Eldercare Mediation is a way to find the best possible answers to quality-of-life questions. 

Topics are chosen by the family and may include parental living arrangements, health,  personal care, home upkeep and repair, financial concerns, trust, estate issues, guardianship, and power of attorney decisions.

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES

Labor and employment disputes-Workplace Mediation allow both parties to speak freely about a conflict in a confidential session. This increased communication can improve workplace relations between employer/employee, or employee/employee, and allow the matter to be resolved without feelings of resentment. 

small claims court (pre & post filing)

small claims court (pre & post filing-A neutral third-party facilitator works to get the parties to compromise and voluntarily reach a settlement for small monetary disputes.  The mediator may work out a partial or full settlement with the parties, or in some cases, no settlement, and in that situation, the case would proceed to trial.

Civil Rights Actions-When dealing with any form of discrimination whether it be race, sexual orientation, religion, gender, workplace harassment, etc., involving a neutral-facilitator allows parties to negotiate an agreement to heal the harm that was done.

civil rights actions

family discussions about difficult decisions

family discussions about difficult decisions-Often times family conversations can be emotional, making decisions more difficult. 

In mediation, the mediator creates a structure for the conversation so that each person has an opportunity to speak and be heard. Families can follow some of these techniques for their future communication.  

LAndlord & tenant DISPUTES

Landlord-tenant disputes Landlord-tenant mediation can address issues including handling unpaid rent or property damage payments and arranging timely property repairs. Landlord-tenant mediation can save lengthy court time and provides the opportunity for both parties to solve their issues outside of a courtroom.