COM 0122.059 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The YMCA Mediation Services provides services to a larger population with a larger number of cases, while being handicapped by decreasing funding support from Hawaii County sources. The recommendation to not fund the YMCA application centered around 3 points: A. Critical work, B. Too much emphasis on youth and C. State support of alternative dispute resolution. A. Critical work- The YMCA Mediation Services provides quality case-based mediation services for a wide array of disputes. The program handles neighbor/neighbor, landlord/tenant, divorce/family and community disputes. These cases sometimes involve the criminal and/or civil court system, adding to the complexity of the case. The program also handles disputes involving Special Education, Oi~ice of Regulated Industries (RICO), Real Estate Commission, and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (the program is paid a fee by the referring agency for these cases (approximately 15 cases per year)). These case types are similar to Big Island Mediation. B. Too much emphasis on youth- YMCA Mediation services has a core component of community mediation. T`he YMCA shares a master contract with six mediation centers in the state (the contract includes Big Island Mediation) for these core services. The Big Island Mediation program also has a youth school based component, as do 2 other mediation centers in the state. These programs are not included in the state contract. The Character Development component (the youth A~erschool component) was added to the YMCA Mediation Services in 2000 and comprises only 16% of the total program's revenue and thrust for Program Year 2001-2002. Of the program budget of $90,951, only $15,000 will be utilized for the Character Development component, the remaining $75,951 is restricted to the core mediation component. The Character Development component (youth program) is not funded by either the County or the State. it is funded through private foundations and other community sources. If County funding is approved, it will not be used to support the Character Development component, County funding will be restricted to case-based mediation services. C. State support of alternative dispute resolution- the state supports both YMCA Mediation Services and Big Island Mediation with identical funding. We agree with the County that the state should contribute funding at a higher level, and are doing everything we can to accomplish that goal. Nevertheless, until increased state funding can be obtained, funding from the County is critical to program survival. We are not asking that the County rescind its recommendation to fund the Big Island Mediation program. Mediation services are critically needed throughout the entire county. However, the YMCA Mediation Services are providing more services to a larger population, and we feel that we have exceeded the same criteria used to recommend funding for the Big Island Mediation program. Therefore, we respectfully request that the County Council adjust funding levels for mediation to provide similar funding to both the East Hawaii and West Hawaii mediation organizations ($10,000 for FY 2002). Should you have any program specific questions, please contact Dorothea Auldridge at 885-5388. Sinc el , o rt . i~~IasuG~d~a President/CEO C: County Council Members