Mediation Programs
From Consumer Wiki
Mediation programs provide an alternative method of resolving complaints or disputes without having to go to court. Through the mediation process, the individuals involved in a dispute work out their own solutions with the help of a mediator. The mediator does not force a decision on the individuals but helps guide them in reaching a solution. Since the individuals involved in the dispute play active roles in resolving the problem, they are usually comfortable and supportive of the solution.
Successful mediations often result in written agreements that are signed by both individuals in a dispute. If the parties do not reach a mutually acceptable solution, either or both of the parties may still file a court action.
Mediation procedures are voluntary and ordinarily take place in one or more sessions. Mediators are either trained, volunteer non-lawyers who reside in the community, or are paid individuals with backgrounds in law, psychology, or counseling.
The mediator's role is to work with both parties in a dispute to identify the issues, reduce misunderstandings, clarify priorities, vent emotions, find points of agreement, explore new areas of compromise, and negotiate an agreement.
For more information about programs in your area, contact a local consumer agency or small claims court advisor. Local mediation programs available in California are listed below.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
SEEDS Community Resolution Center
1968 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 548-2377
(510) 548-4051 Fax
www.seedscrc.org
Family Violence Law Center
PO BOX 22009
Oakland, CA 94623
(510) 540-5370
(510) 208-0255 Crisis
(510) 208-0220
(510) 208-3557 Fax
www.fvlc.org
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Center for Human Development Conflict Resolution Programs
391 Taylor Boulevard, Suite 120
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-0227
(925) 687-8844
www.chdprevention.org
Stand Against Domestic Violence
1410 Danzig Plaza, 2nd Floor
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 676-2845
(888) 215-5555 Crisis Hot Line
(925) 676-0532 Fax
www.standagainstdv.org
Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission
2020 North Broadway, Suite 203A
Norman Creek, CA 94596
(925) 646-6160 Not staffed on a regular basis
California Community Dispute Services
502 7th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 865-2520
COUNTY HUMBOLDT
Humboldt Mediation Services
517 3rd Street, Suite 3
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 445-2505
(707) 445-2547 Fax
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County Dispute
Resolution Services
P.O. Box 1173
Lake Port, CA 95453
(707) 263-6800
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center
1145 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90042
(213) 250-8190
www.apadrc.org
Consumer Action
221 Main Street, Suite 480
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 777-9635 Hotline
(415) 777-9648 Main Line
(415) 777-5267 Fax
www.mediationresources.org
L.A. County Bar Association
1055 W. 7th Street, Suite 2700
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 627-2727
www.lacba.org
Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney
Dispute Resolution Program
222 S Hill St, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 485-8324
(213) 485-8565 Fax
(213) 485-8916 Fax
(210) 485-0757 TDD/TDY
California Lawyers for the Arts
Southern California Office
1641 18th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 998-5590
(310) 998-5594 Fax
www.calawyersforhearts.org
California Lawyers for the Arts
San Francisco Office
Ft Mason Center, C255
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 775-7200
(415) 775-1143 Fax
California Lawyers for the Arts
San Jose Office
California Lawyers for the Arts
C/O Arts Council Silicon Valley
4 North Second Street
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 998-2787 Ext 216
(408) 971-9458 Fax
Email - sanjose@calawyersforthearts.org
California Lawyers for the Arts
Sacramento Office
1418 20th Street Ste 201
Sacramento, CA 95811
Email - Clasacto@aol.com
Martin Luther King Dispute Resolution Center
4182 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90062
(323) 290-4132
Los Angeles County DCA
Dispute Settlement Services
500 West Temple Street, Suite B-96
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-0825
Community and Senior Dispute Resolution Services of Los Angeles County
3175 West 6th Street, Room 304
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 738-2621
Milton Miller Memorial Disability Rights Legal Center
919 S. Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(866) 999-3572
(213) 736-1334
(213) 736-8310 TTY
Korean American Coalition
3727 W 6th Street, Suite 515
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 383-4290
Los Angeles Chapter
3540 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 911
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 365-5999
Email - info@kacla.org
The Superior Court California, Los Angeles County Alternative
Dispute Resolution Office
111 North Hill Street, Room 113
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-5425
(213) 633-5115 Fax
The Loyola Law School Center for Conflict Resolution
919 S Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 736-1000
(213) 380-3769 Fax
California Academy of Mediation Professionals
16501 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 606
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 377-7250
(818) 784-1836 Fax
Center for Conflict Resolution
16830 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 504
Encino, CA 91436
City of Norwalk Dispute Resolution Program
11929 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 929-5603
(562) 929-5515 Fax
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Dispute Resolution Services
1055 W. 7th Street, Ste 2700
Los Angeles CA 90017
(213) 896-6533
(213) 833-6718 Fax
MARIN COUNTY
County of Marin Mediation Services
30 N San Pedro Road, Suite 170
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 499-7454
(415) 499-6188 Spanish Speaking
Marin County Mediation Services & Small Claims Advisors
4 Jeannette Prandi Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
Small Claims
Civic Center, Hall of Justice Room 113
San Rafael, CA 94903
MONTEREY COUNTY
Conflict Resolution and Mediation Center of Monterey County
1900 Garden Road, Suite 110
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 649-6219
RIVERSIDE
Office of the District Attorney
Consumer Mediation Section
4080 Lemon Street, 4th Floor
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 955-1100
(951) 955-1105 Fax
Email - eolson@rceo.org
Riverside County Bar Association
Dispute Resolution Service
4129 Main Street, Ste 100
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 682-2132
(951) 682-0106 Fax
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Consumer Action
717 Market Street, Suite 310
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 777-9635
(415) 777-5267 Fax
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board
1005 Begonia Avenue
Ontario, CA 91762
(909) 984-2254
National Conflict Resolution Center
North County Office
380 Melrose Drive, suite 363
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 504-7977
(619) 238-8041 Fax
www.ncrconline.com
SAN DIEGO
National Conflict Resolution Center
625 Broadway, Suite 1221
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-2400
(619) 238-8041 Fax
www.ncrconline.com
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
1660 S Amphlet Blvd, Ste 219
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 513-0330
Free of charge if consumer resides in Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, and San Francisco
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Community Mediation Program
330 East Carillo Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-6765
Santa Barbara Superior Court
Court Administered Dispute Resolution
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 882-4661
(805) 882-4613 Fax
Santa Barbara Superior Court
312-C East Cook St.
Santa Maria CA 93454
(805) 614-6555
(905) 614-6616 Fax
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Center of Santa Cruz County
Conflict Resolution
P.O. Box 187
Soquel, Ca 95073
(831) 475-6117
Email - info@crcssantacruz.org
VENTURA COUNTY
Office of the District Attorney
Consumer Mediation Section
5720 Ralston Street Ste 300
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 654-3110
(805) 648-9255 Fax
Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement
1200 Paseo Camarillo Ste 170
Camarillo CA 93010
(805) 384-1313
(805) 384-1333
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