HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0341.002 1996-1998 THE ISLAN; iF HAWAI'I YMCA MEDIATION .OGRAMS
Members of the County Council, thank you for this opportunity to testify.
The Island ofHawai'i YMCA's two mediation programs, Ku'ikahi Mediation Center (established in 1983) and
West Hawaii 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 utilize trained volunteers, so the cost of the services remain accessible to the community.
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 aze given skills that they use to strengthen their own business and personal relationships.
• cost savin¢s- to both the participants and court and legal system when disputes aze resolved with limited or
no court involvement
The programs hold a contract with 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 development and assistance.
The mediation process provides participants the opportunity to resolve disputes, with the goal of reaching fair
and durable solutions. The mediator's role is to assist all parties involved in communicating what it 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, aze professionally
trained and must successfully complete 44 hours of training to mediate for the programs.
Privatization Issue:
We understand the concerns raised in areas that have been traditionally provided by County staff. To our
knowledge, the County has never had staff provide community mediation services. Although the funding
amount received from the County is just 10% of program budget ($10,000), that funding, leveraged by the use of
volunteers, yields a much greater value to the community than the actual dollar amount received. We trust that
the Council will be able to find a creative balance between the rights of civil service employees and varied needs
of the community that have been served very cost-effectively in the past through purchase of service contracts.
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