HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.015 1996-1998 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
Ku'ikahi Mediation Center/West Hawaii Mediation Center
1995-1996 Year Ending Stats
Cases opened for FY 1995-1996
K~ WHMS
Information 39 114
Referral 234 157
Cases Open 277 244
use Tyne and DiseoSition
1SM~
Business i0 52
Community 2 17
Con./Mercti. 29 9
Domestic 78 94
Family/Friend 14 03
Job-Related OS 02
Juvenile 11 03
Landiord/Tenant 29 40
Neighbor 10 09
TRO 21 00
Small Claims 14 00
Other 43 oil
Unknown O1 66
bisoosition of Cases Closed in FY 1995-1996
~
Cases closed M/Agree 84 85
Cases Closed MM 54 30
Cases closed No Mediation 100 114
Cases Closed Conciliation 23 10
Open pending 34 20
" Cases were cosed for the following: domestic violence, not appropriate for mediation, no contact from
second party ,and first or second party refused mediation.
2
Human Resources for 1995-1996
Sessions held 215 190
Mediator hours 824.20 870.25
# of Clients served 589 540
# 6f Benefiioiaries 1,293 459
Total Clients served 1,983 .999
Training hours (internal} 25 60
Training hours (external) 00 387
Referral Sources
1Sm.C 7~$
Circuit Court 12 00
District Court 194 89
Family Court 27 22
Aftbriiey 11 32
Consumer Protection 01 02
Famity/Friend 09 15
Legal Aid 08 O5
Media 00 63
Police O5 01
Prior Client 04 24
Prosecutor 11 09
Public Defender 00 00
Self 29 05
Social Service Agency 19 22
Department Of Education 02 00
Other 05 15
Number of Legal Referrals
15~~
Intakes from legal Systems 208 158
3
Geocral~hic Districts Served Per Client KMC WHMS
Hamakua 15 OS
Hawi 00 1b
Hilo 332 12
Hotlokaa 04 13
Kailua -Kona p3 186
Kamuela 08 137
Kau 37 ~
Kohala p2 ~
Puna 102 01
Ocean View 02 09
Waikaloa 00 27
South Kona 04 ~
Volcano 3g 00
Outer Islands 06 13
Unknown 36 29
Ethnic Background of Ea h li nt KMC 1~- pdg
African American 08 03
Caucasian 26b 376
18 06
ROpY't6 2g 12
Hawaiian 78 28
Indian 00 ~ 00
Japanese 57 20
Korean 16 ~
~ 5g 27
Rb~tW Rican O5 02
Hispanic 06 04
Vietmanese pt 00
Other 14 10
European 03 15
Unknown 36 29
Income Level Of Each Client KMC WHMS
Above 66 104
Gap g2 gg
Below 431 337