California Coalition for Community Mediation - CCCM
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is mediation?
2. Can mediators advise me of my legal rights?
3. What does is mean to be a community mediation program?
4. What kinds of disputes do community mediation programs address?
5. What other kinds of services do community mediation programs offer?
6. What is the mission of the California Coalition for Community Mediation?
1. What is Mediation?
Mediation provides an alternative method of resolving problems 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 usually are comfortable with 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 agreeable solution, either or both of the parties may still file a court action.
Mediation procedures are voluntary, and usually take place in one or more sessions. Mediators usually 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 collaboration, and negotiate an agreement. Mediators do not take sides and do not decide the outcome of the mediation.
2. Can mediators advise me of my legal rights?
It is not part of a mediator's role to provide legal advice. Mediators are neutral parties, and their main responsibility is to help parties reach a mutually acceptable conclusion or resolution to a problem. Mediators are impartial negotiators, not advisors and they work equally on behalf of all parties. Therefore, a mediator can not advise an individual party of their rights.
3. What does it mean to be a Community Mediation program?
A Community Mediation program in California is generally an independent nonprofit organization, or a program sponsored by a public agency, social service or educational institution, that has one or more of the following characteristics:
- The mediation program makes available at least some of their services either for free, low cost or sliding scale to individuals or groups in their local communities depending on income or ability to pay.
- The mediation program may use trained, experienced volunteers from their local communities as mediators in some or all of these services.
- The mediation program may receive funding to provide mediation and other conflict resolution services to their local communities through the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act (DRPA).
4. What kinds of disputes do community mediation programs address?
Typical situations community mediation programs assist with include:
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disputes involving neighbors dealing with such issues as property lines, fences, noise, parking
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landlord and tenant concerns such as security deposits, maintenance and rent
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merchants/contractors and consumers
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businesses
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family members, including parent/teen conflicts
Plus, co-workers, youth, schools, homeowner associations, seniors and many, many more!
5. What other kinds of services do community mediation programs offer?
In addition to mediation services, community mediation programs often also offer training in mediation skills, communication techniques and other tools for dealing with conflict. Many programs have services focused on schools including training for youth, teachers and parents, and supporting school-based peer-mediation programs. Community mediation centers also offer group meeting facilitation services for community forums, non-profit organizations and other groups.
6. What is the mission of the California Coalition for Community Mediation?
The California Coalition for Community Mediation is a group of mediation centers who have been working together since spring of 2004. The purpose of the California Coalition for Community Mediation (CCCM) is to increase statewide collaboration of community mediation organizations in order to develop and present a clear and compelling voice in all areas where decisions are made that affect community mediation.
The Coalition seeks to advance the interests of community mediation and provide opportunities for information sharing and collaboration among community mediation programs.