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