COM 0193.015 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THE ISLAN: )F HAWAII YMCA MEDIATION ,OGRAMS Members of the County Council, thank you for this opportunity to testify. The Island of Hawaii YMCA's two mediation programs, Ku'ikahi Mediation Center (established in 1983) and West Hawau Mediation Services (established in 1988) provide island-wide mediation and conciliation services to individuals and organizations of Hawaii County. West Hawaii Mediation Services became a program of the Island of Hawaii YMCA in 1995 so that both programs could better serve the Big Island community. The programs hold a contract whh the State Judiciary to provide mediation services. The contract requires that programs match the Judiciary funding by 25% through other sources. In 1996, the programs opened 521 cases, achieving a 79% agreement rate for cases mediated. Both programs utilize trained volunteer mediators for service provision, and in 1996, those volunteers mediated over 1694 hours. In addition, program volunteers contributed over 500 hours in training developmem and assistance. The mediation process provides participants the opportunity to resolve disputes, with the goal of reaching fair and durable solutions. The tnediator's role is to assist all parties involved in communicating what h is that's important to them in the dispute, and to assist the parties in negotiating the particulars of agreements reached. Agreements reached through mediation tend to last longer because the parties involved have ownership of the resolution, and can address issues beyond specific points of law. Volunteer mediators come from all walks of life: attorneys, teachers, students, retirees, business persons, and represent a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Our mediators interviewed, selected, are professionally trained and must successfully complete 44 hours of training to mediate for the programs. The mediation program provide many benefits to the Hawaii County community: • participants are assisted in resolving sometimes long-standing disputes in a process that allows them to take responsibility for redressing the past, and addressing their future relationship and behavior; • volunteer mediators are given skills that they use to strengthen their own business and personal relationships. • cost savinus- to both the participants and court and legal system when disputes are resolved with limited or no court involvement 'The programs provide quality mediation services, with community members helping other community members and we ask you for your continued support. RECEIVED - lime..-----... By . . County, CounG~ ..r..v.._:...-._ 1 T':h 1Y-~~. Presented - N Ref. To~_ lief. ]Yale iNAR i g 1991