Local Dispute Resolution Programs
Mediation programs provide an alternative method of resolving complaints 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 enforce 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 program, they usually are 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 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 nonlawyers 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
Alameda County, County Administrator's Office
1221 Oak Street, Suite 555
Oakland, CA 94612
FAX: (510) 272-3784
Programs
California Lawyers for the Arts
Alma Robinson, Executive Director
2140 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 310
Berkeley, CA 94704
TEL: (888) 775-8995
Email: Alma.Robinson@calawyersforthearts.org
Website: www.calawyersforthearts.org
Center for Community Dispute Settlement
Diane Jeronimo, Executive Director
291 McLeod Street
Livermore, CA 94550
TEL: (925) 337-7185
FAX: (925) 454-9205
Email: ccdsmediation@cs.com
Website: www.trivalleymediation.com
SEEDS Community Resolution Center
Sara Cantor, Executive Director
2530 San Pablo Ave., Suite A
Berkeley, CA 94702
TEL: (510) 548-2377
Email: info@seedscrc.org
Website: www.seedscrc.org
CONTRA COSTA
Administration Office
Senior Deputy County Administrator
Contra Costa County
651 Pine Street, 10th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Programs
The Center for Human Development
Elaine Prendergast, Project Director
391 Taylor Boulevard, Suite 120
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
TEL: (925) 687-8844
FAX: (925) 687-6903
The Congress of Neutrals
1300 Civic Drive, Suite 102
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
TEL: (925) 937-3008
FAX: (926) 937-0165
EL DORADO
Laureen Lee Shuttleworth, ADR Administrator
El Dorado County Superior Court
3321 Cameron Park Drive
Cameron Park, CA 95682
TEL: (530) 621-7629
FRESNO
County DRPA Coordinator: Sheran Morton, Executive Officer
ADR Administrator: Mari Henson
Fresno County Superior Court
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724
TEL: (559) 457-1908
Website: https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/self-help/alternative-dispute-resolution
Programs
Mediation Services by Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Director: Carlos Guzman
2600 W. Shaw Lane
Fresno, CA 93711
TEL: (559) 256-6300 or (800) 675-8118 Ext 300
Web: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-central-california-and-inland-empire-counties
HUMBOLDT
Program
Humboldt Mediation Services
517 Third Street, Suite 3
Eureka, CA 95501
TEL: (707) 445-2505
EMAIL: humboldtmediation@reninet.com
INYO
County Coordinator: Charles Broten
Inyo Mono Area Agency on Aging
P.O. Box 1799
Bishop, CA 93515
TEL: (760) 873-6364
FAX: (760) 873-5103
TOLL FREE (877) 462-2298
imaaa@qnet.com
KERN
Gina Cervantes
ADR Coordinator
Kern County Superior Court
1415 Truxtun Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-1150
Program
BBB Mediation Services
Carlos Guzman, Director of Mediation
1601 H Street, Suite 101
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 616-5252 or (800) 675-8118 Ext 300
LAKE
Catherine D. Ward, J.D.
Civil Mediation Program Coordinator, Lake Superior Court
255 N. Forbes
Lakeport CA 95453
(707) 495-1709
Programs
Lake County Dispute Resolution Services, Inc.
Barbara Johnson, Executive Director
PO Box 1173
Lakeport, CA 95453
(707) 263-6800
lcdrs.org@gmail.com
LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles County Dispute Resolution Program
Maritza H. Gutierrez, County Manager
Rigoberto Reyes, Deputy Director
320 W. Temple Street, Suite G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TEL: (213) 974-0826
EMAIL: CountyDRPAAdministrator@dcba.lacounty.gov
WEBSITE: https://dcba.lacounty.gov/CountywideDRP
Programs
Arts Arbitration and Mediation Services (AAMS)
a program of California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA)
Aaron Larks-Stanford, Program Director (LA)
Gloria Ruiz Oster, Deputy Director & Southern California Director
Alma Robinson (SF), Executive Director
12304 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 304
Los Angeles, CA 90025
TEL: (310) 207-0001
EMAIL: losangeles@calawyersforthearts.org
Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center
Christina W. Kataoka, JD/MDR Executive Director
75 S Grand Ave, Suite 217
Pasadena, CA 91105
TEL (213) 250-8190
WEBSITE: https://apadrc.org/
California Conference for Equality and Justice
Daniel Solís, M.A. Associate Executive Director
3605 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 100
Long Beach, CA 90807
TEL: (562) 435-8184
FAX: (562) 435-8318
WEBSITE: http://www.cacej.org/
Center for Conflict Resolution
Chris Welch, Director
7806 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda, CA 91355
TEL: (818) 705-1090
WEBSITE: https://www.ccr.la/
Centinela Youth Services
Jessica Ellis, Director
110 S. La Brea Ave., Suite 450
Inglewood, CA 90301
TEL: (310) 970-7702
FAX: (310) 675-2300
WEBSITE: https://www.cys-la.org/
Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Dispute Resolution Program
Jessica Morales, Program Manager
320 W. Temple Street, G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TEL: (800) 583-8222
EMAIL: mediation@dcba.lacounty.gov
WEBSITE: https://dcba.lacounty.gov/mediation/
Korean American Coalition, 4.29 Center
Eunice Song, Executive Director
3727 W. 6th St., Suite 305
Los Angeles, CA 90020
TEL: (213) 365-5999 or (213) 383-4290
WEBSITE: www.kacla.org
Los Angeles City Attorney Dispute Resolution Program (DRP)
Sheryl Fox, Program Manager
200 North Spring Street, 23rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TEL: (213) 978-1880
EMAIL: mediate@lacity.org
WEBSITE: www.lacityattorney.org/mediation
Los Angeles City Attorney Neighborhood Justice Program (NJP)
Saminh Greenberg, Supervising Attorney
200 N. Spring Street, 23rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TEL: 213 - 978-7185
EMAIL: att.njp@lacity.org
Website: www.lacityattorney.org/njp
Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution, Loyola Law School
Sara Campos, Director
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
TEL: (213) 736-1145
WEBSITE: https://www.lls.edu/academics/centers/loyolacenterforconflictresolution/
MARIN
County Coordinator: Brian Rockwell
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 325
San Rafael, CA 94903
TEL: (415) 499-6406
FAX: (415) 473-4117
Programs
Marin County Mediation Services
Barbara Kob, Manager
30 N. San Pedro Rd., Suite 170
San Rafael, CA 94903
TEL: (415) 499-7454
FAX: (415) 499-3673
Fair Housing of Marin
Nancy Kenyon, Executive Director
615 B Street
San Rafael, CA 94901-3884
TEL: (415) 457-5025
FAX: (415) 457-6382
MENDOCINO
Program
Mendocino Dispute Resolution Services
200 South School Street
P.O. Box 205
Ukiah, CA 95482
TEL: (707) 462-7265
FAX: (707) 462-2088
MONO
County Coordinator: John Wohlmuth
Mono County Administration Office
P.O. Box 696
Bridgeport, CA 93517
TEL: (760) 932-5228
FAX: (760) 932-7145
MONTEREY
Program
Conflict Resolution & Mediation Center of Monterey County
Dorene L. Matthews, Executive Director
1900 Garden Road, Suite 240
Monterey, CA 93940
TEL: (831) 649-6219; (408) 424-4694
FAX: (831) 372-7909
NEVADA
Conflict Resolution Services of Nevada County
Liz Mantle, MFT, Executive Director
308 Main Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
TEL: (530) 477-6517
ORANGE
Orange County Community Services
Stefanie Ransom
1300 S. Grand Avenue, Building B, 2nd Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92705
TEL: (714) 480-6433
FAX: (714) 834-7132
Programs
Dispute Resolution Services
Jennifer Reed, Program Director
Waymakers
1221 E. Dyer Road, Suite 120
Santa Ana, CA 92705
TEL: (949) 250-4058
FAX: (714) 540-1918
Dispute Resolution Services
Alfonso Clarke
Orange County Human Relations Council
1300 S Grand Avenue, Building B
Santa Ana, CA 92705
TEL: (714) 834-7198
FAX: (714) 567-7474
PLACER
Bekki Riggan
Deputy County Executive Officer
Placer County Executive Office
175 Fulweiler Avenue
Auburn, CA 95603
TEL: (530) 889-4030
Program
Placer Dispute Resolution
Aaron Casteel, Executive Director
3785 Placer Corporate Dr., Ste. 55
Rocklin, CA 95765
TEL: (916) 234-0045
admin@placerdisputeresolution.org
RIVERSIDE
Riverside County Executive Office
4080 Lemon Street, Fourth Floor
Attn: Alternate Dispute Resolution Program
Riverside, CA 92501
TEL: (951) 955-1110
FAX: (951) 955-1105
Programs
Dispute Resolution Center
Olga Sanchez, MPA, CCAP
Senior Community Program Specialist
Community Action Partnership
Riverside University Health System-Public Health
2038 Iowa Avenue, Suite B102
Riverside, CA 92507
TEL: (951) 955-9389
SACRAMENTO
County Coordinator: Sharon Dwight
Sr. Administrative Analyst
Countywide Services Agency
700 H Street, Suite 7650
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: (916) 874-5229
FAX: (916) 874-588
Programs
Arts, Arbitration & Mediation Services (AAMS)
programs of California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA)
Sacramento Mediation Center
Jody Prunier, Director of Mediation Services
Alma Robinson (SF), Executive Director
2015 J Street, Suite 204
Sacramento, CA 95811
TEL: (916) 441-7979
FAX: (916) 441-1170
Center for Youth Citizenship
Joseph P. Maloney, Executive Director
10170 Missile Way
Mather, CA 95655
TEL: (916) 228-2322
FAX: (916) 228-2493
Human Rights Fair Housing Commission (HR/FHC)
Barbara Lehman, Executive Director
1112 I Street, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: (916) 444-6903
FAX: (916) 444-6630
Senior Legal Hotline
Legal Services of Northern California
Gary F. Smith, Executive Director
517 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: (916) 551-2150
FAX: (916) 551-2195
SAN BERNARDINO
Programs
Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board
Program Director: Lynne Anderson, Executive Director
1500 South Haven Avenue, Suite 100
Ontario, CA 91761
TEL: (909) 984-2254
TOLL FREE (800) 321-0911
FAX: (909) 460-0274
SAN DIEGO
Juana Dueñas, CAP Program Manager
Health and Human Services Agency
Community Action Partnership
1255 Imperial Avenue, Suite 446
San Diego, CA 92101
PHONE: (619) 338-2002
FAX: (619) 338-2778
EMAIL: Juana.Duenas@www.sandiegocounty.gov
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/sd/community_action_partnership/
Programs
National Conflict Resolution Center
Steven P. Dinkin, President
625 Broadway Street, Suite 1221
San Diego, CA 92101-5419
TEL: (619) 238-2400
FAX: (619) 238-8041
North County Lifeline
Karen Thompson, Dispute Resolution Project Director
200 Michigan Avenue
Vista, CA 92084
TEL: (760) 726-4900
FAX: (760) 631-0778
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco District Attorneys Office - Brooke Jenkins
350 Rhode Island Street
North Building Suite 400N
San Francisco, CA 94103
TEL: (628) 652-4000
Programs
Community Boards
Darlene Weide, Executive Director
601 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 2040
San Francisco, CA 94102
TEL: (415) 920-3820
San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project
925 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
SAN JOAQUIN
County Coordinator: Diana Landmann, Court Manager
Superior Court
San Joaquin County
222 E. Weber, Room 303
Stockton, CA 95202
TEL: (209) 468-8121
FAX: (209) 468-8373
Program
Dispute Resolution Services of the San Joaquin County Bar Foundation
6 S. El Dorado Street, Suite 315
Stockton, CA 95202
TEL: (209) 948-1361
Contact: Janette L. Rossell, J.D., Program Administrator
SAN LUIS OBISPO
Michelle Frazier, Court Fiscal Officer
San Luis Obispo Courts
County Government Center
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
TEL: (805) 781-5417
FAX: (805) 781-1295
Program
Creative Mediation
Jesse Sostrin, CEO
285 South Street, Suite P
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
TEL: (805) 549-0442
FAX: (805) 549-0654
info@creativemediation.net
SAN MATEO
County Coordinator: John Fitton
Superior Court of California
County of San Mateo
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1655
TEL: (650) 363-1631
FAX: (650) 363-4698
Sheila Purcell
ADR Director
Multi-option ADR Project
400 County Center, Courtroom 2f
Redwood City, CA 94063
TEL: (650) 363-4148
Programs
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
Patricia Brown, Executive Director
1660 S. Amphlett Boulevard, Suite 219
San Mateo, CA 94402
TEL: (650) 513-0330 Ext. 305
FAX: (650) 513-0335
SANTA BARBARA
County Coordinator: Darrel Parker
Executive Officer
Santa Barbara County Superior Court
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
TEL: (805) 614-6636
Contact: Vance Saukko
Email: vsaukko@sbcourts.org
Program
Conflict Solutions Center of Santa Barbara
Sherrill Nickerson, Executive Director
1528 Chapala Street, Suite 205
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
TEL: (805) 349-8943
FAX: (805) 349-8963
SANTA CLARA
County of Santa Clara
Office of the District Attorney
Consumer Mediation Services
County Government Center, West Wing
70 West Hedding Street
San Jose, California 95110
TEL: (408) 792-2880
EMAIL: consumer@dao.sccgov.org
Programs
County of Santa Clara Office of Mediation and Ombuds Service (OMOS)
2310 North First St., Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95131
General Mediation Intake: (408) 993-4130 opencase@ceo.sccgov.org
Court Mediation Intake: (408) 993-4120 drp@ceo.sccgov.org
Juvenile Welfare Ombuds: (408) 993-4114 ombuds@ceo.sccgov.org
Adult Custody Ombuds: (408) 993-4140 acoo@ceo.sccgov.org
Project Sentinel – Santa Clara Headquarters Office
1490 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
TEL: (408) 720-9888
FAX: (408) 216-9968
EMAIL: info@housing.org
Project Sentinel - Gilroy Office
8339 Church Street, Ste. 104
Gilroy, CA 95020
TEL: (408) 842-7740
FAX: (408) 767-2927
EMAIL: info@housing.org
Court-Based Alternative Dispute Resolution
Elizabeth Strickland, ADR Administrator
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
191 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
TEL: (408) 882-2530
FAX: (408) 882-2595
SANTA CRUZ
County Coordinator: Alex Calvo
Executive Officer
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz
701 Ocean Street, Room 110
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
TEL: (831) 454-2380
FAX: (831) 454-3297
Programs
Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County
(Small Claims, Divorce, Restorative Justice, and Community Mediation Programs)
Lejla Bratovic, Program Director
1414 Soquel Ave., Ste. 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
TEL: (831) 475-6117
info@crcsantacruz.org
SOLANO
Terry Quadros
Senior Management Analyst
Executive Office
Superior Court of California, County of Solano
600 Union Avenue
Fairfield, CA. 94533
TEL: (707) 207-7482
FAX: (707) 426-1631
Program
Dispute Resolution Service - Solano County Bar Association (Small Claims)
Julie Hilt, Executive Director
744 Empire Street, Suite 201
Fairfield, CA 94533
TEL: (707) 422-5087
FAX: (707) 422-3860
SONOMA
County Coordinator: Jose Guillen
Court Executive Officer
600 Administration Drive, Room.102 J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
TEL: (707) 565-1160
FAX: (707) 565-1165
Program
The Redwood Empire Conflict Resolution Services
RECOURSE Mediation Services (dba)
2455 Bennett Valley Road, Suite B107
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
TEL: (707) 525-8545
FAX: (707) 589-4424
info@recoursemediation.com
VENTURA
Dispute Resolution Program
County Executive Office
800 S. Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
TEL: (805) 654-3603
Website: https://www.ventura.org/online-services/dispute-resolution/
Programs
Office of the District Attorney
Consumer Mediation Section
5720 Ralston Street, Suite 300
Ventura, CA 93003
TEL: (805) 654-3110
Website: https://www.vcdistrictattorney.com/services/special-prosecutions/#consumermediation
Conflict Resolution Institute
555 Airport Way, Suite D
Camarillo, California 93010
TEL: (805) 384-1313
Website: http://conflictresolutionvc.org/
YOLO
Yolo County, County Administrator’s Office
County Coordinator: Carolyn West
625 Court Street, Room 202
Woodland, CA 95695
TEL: (530) 406-5775
Programs
Yolo Conflict Resolution Center
Kara Hunter, Executive Director
P.O. Box 1874
Davis, CA 95617
TEL: (916) 692-9316 or (530) 564-2324
kara@yolocrc.org