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KIPCOR:
Community Mediation Center

The Community Mediation Center (CMC) is a community-based organization that provides mediation services for the residents of Newton and the surrounding area. CMC is a program of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) at Bethel College.

Funding has been provided in part by fees for services from mediation participants and the Ninth Judicial District Court, by private donations and by grants from the Kansas Supreme Court's Dispute Resolution Advisory Council.

Mediation Settings

CMC conducts mediation in the following areas:

• Family
• Domestic Mediation (Divorce/Parenting Plans)
• Parent-Teen Mediation
• ElderCare Problem-Solving Project
• Community
• Neighborhood Dispute Resolution
• Small Claims Court Mediation
• Workplace Mediation
• School
• Bethel College Student Life Mediation and Facilitated Dialogue
• Bethel College Academic Standards (Plagiarism) Mediation
• Middle and High School Student Mediations

Facts about CMC Mediation

• What is mediation?

Mediation is a process by which two or more parties meet with a trained unbiased third party (mediator) to resolve disputes through discussion, negotiation and problem solving. The parties involved in the dispute determine the solution to their conflicts with the assistance of the mediator: The mediator never imposes a solution.

• What disputes can be mediated?

Almost any, including, but not limited to:

• Neighborhood and/or Friends: noise, pets, trespassing, harassment, nuisance, trash;
• Family: issues concerning older family members, personal property, debts, harassment, other disagreements;
• Landlord-Tenant: security deposits, repairs, property damage;
• Consumer-Merchant: faulty repair, poor quality service or product, refunds;
• Child Custody/Parenting-Time Disputes: qualified low-income individuals in Harvey County receive a reduced rate; and
• Work Place: employer-employee and employee-employee.



• How does mediation work?

After meeting individually with each party, CMC schedules a session between the parties during which the mediator asks each party to describe the conflict from his/her perspective while all others listen. The mediator asks questions to help identify needs and interests, and to clarify issues.

Possible solutions are explored with the help of the mediator, and any agreement is put in writing and signed. If mediation is court ordered, their agreement will be submitted to court for consideration and likely adoption as an order of the court.

Neither attorneys nor witnesses are required, although if the parties have legal representation, it is recommended that their agreement be reviewed by their attorney prior to signing.

• What are the benefits of mediation?

Mediation:

• gives more control to the people involved;
• can result in a win-win agreement;
• is confidential in most situations;
• is frequently less costly and faster than court proceedings;
• is informal; and
• seeks fairness for all parties.



• How much will mediation cost?

Total mediation costs depend upon the amount of time required and the type and complexity of the case. A sliding scale, based on the parties' income, is frequently used to determine the fee each individual is expected to pay for CMC's mediation services. However, no one who qualifies for CMC's low-income domestic program will be denied services due to his or her demonstrated inability to pay. There is no charge to family members for use of CMC's ElderCare Problem-Solving Project.

Please contact CMC for further information regarding fees for mediation.

• When can mediation be requested?

Mediation can be requested any time people need help resolving a conflict. Although participation in mediation can be either voluntary or court-ordered, it is not necessary that any legal proceeding be filed or contemplated. Friends, family members, organizations, agencies, legal representatives and others may make referrals to CMC.

• How long does mediation take?
  

  Mediation sessions usually last two or three hours. Most disputes are resolved in one or two sessions. Multi-party and child custody disputes may require several sessions.

• Who are the mediators?

For child custody/parenting-time disputes, CMC uses a panel of specially-trained, state-approved, professional mediators. For other cases, CMC's mediator panel consists of state-approved community volunteers and professional mediators.

• What are some of CMC's projects?

• CMC accepts cases from individuals or groups within the community that have no involvement with the court. Depending on the circumstances, CMC may be able to contact the second party to see if he/she/they would be interested in resolving the dispute through mediation.
• CMC has mediators in the Small Claims Courts in McPherson and Harvey Counties for disputants who would like to have their case mediated instead of determined by a judge.
• CMC also has a contract with the Ninth Judicial District Court to provide mediation services for all contested child-custody/parenting-time cases in Harvey County.
• CMC has an ElderCare Problem-Solving Project to help family members who have a difference of opinions regarding what is in the senior member's best interest.

Community Mediation Center
2515 College Avenue / P.O. Box 276
North Newton, KS 67117-0276
(316) 284-5829
cmc@bethelks.edu

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