In a society that seems to avoid face to face conflict and go straight to court which causes many heartaches and puts a dent in people's wallet, I fully support and advocate for people to utilize Community Mediation Services as a healthier, intrinsic valued, emotional supportive and economical way to problem solve conflicts. They have certified mediators available for a wide range of services to assist people of Clark County. Also CMS provides very good fundamental training in mediation for personal and professional development.
I attended Basic Mediation Training with a few of my staff a number of years ago and the knowledge and skills we learned led to an entirely new way to train communication skills to our new and current staff members. We also had CMS come in for in-service training for staff and help with curriculum development. We were very happy with the training and services. Because of my history with CMS, my belief in their philosophy and their service to our community I recently joined the board. I look forward to helping the organization grow and expand services to the community.
CMS offers mediation, which can help with all sorts of situations where you want to move forward with someone rather than be stuck or be in conflict. Mediation can help you have a more satisfying relationship, to see and be seen more authentically, or simply to come to a practical solution that is more satisfying.
The people working there are kind and professional, and the volunteers are diverse, skillful, and personable.
The people and trainings through CMS have improved my communication and relationships--both personally and professionally. I'm grateful for their presence in Clark County and the commitment of both staff and volunteers.
On their own, a very stressed divorced couple were unable to reach agreement about their pre-teen son’s residential time with each parent. As a mediator with Community Mediation Services, I was able to facilitate their discussion to create a schedule focused on their son’s needs. I love the opportunity to help people find collaborative resolutions to their conflicts.
When I saw my coffee-shop buddy "Sam" at Small Claims Court, I knew I couldn't mediate his case. That's because I volunteer as a mediator with Community Mediation Services, which adheres to state ethical standards - meaning a mediator cannot work on case where s/he knows one of the parties. So, another volunteer mediator helped "Sam".
Later, "Sam" told me what an amazing experience he had, moving from the conviction that he would never use that auto repair shop again, to a firm handshake and satisfactory conclusion to the disagreement.
A year or so later, when "Sam" needed repairs to his car, he remembered that handshake, and took the car back to that same auto repair shop. The connection made during the mediation enabled "Sam" to trust the shop owner to take care of him. "Sam" was happy with the repair, and pleased to have moved on from conflict to contentment.
Going through the basic mediation training years ago made such a difference in my life. It helped me be a better listener and communicator in both my work and personal relationships. I learned that conflict can actually be an opportunity for deeper understanding and that mediation can support and facilitate that opportunity.
As a volunteer, I've witnessed first hand the satisfaction that two parties experience when given the chance to be heard (and to hear another) and then to move forward in creating solutions that work for both of them. CMS is a true gem and I'm proud to work with the amazing staff and dedicated volunteers to promote understanding and peace for all.
-Laurie
Community Mediation Services is the dispute resolution center for Clark county and beyond. One of our core strengths is the roster of certified mediators who volunteer their expertise to CMS time and time again. The community of volunteers that mentor, train, educate, and mediate cases make CMS what it is today. I want to thank all our staff, donors, and volunteers that continue to believe in the mission of CMS and continue the cause of peacemaking in our communities.
When I decided to become a mediator, I trained with Community Mediation Services, and am now part of their Practicum program to become certified in the State of Washington. My interactions with them as teachers, facilitators, and mediators show me their professionalism, their skill, and most of all their heart. CMS is dedicated to offering a more heart-centered option to resolving conflict; one that allows for the humanity of the parties to be expressed and shared in a way the legal system does not afford. I am grateful to have found this organization and look forward to being one of their volunteer mediators for years to come. Alison Hilber, Portland, OR
I appreciate that CMS offers a range of dispute resolution services throughout Clark County and has a strong commitment to being able to provide these services to anyone, no matter their income. I am continuously amazed at the positive impact a neutral, third-party mediator can have helping others listen, communicate their interests clearly, and problem solve together.
I've been a volunteer community mediator since 2008. I originally decided to look into mediation because I realize that I needed to become a better communicator. My working life had so many unfortunate failed communications. Once I got involved in the training program, I quickly realized how this group is so very different from other groups that I had been a member. These volunteer were interested in becoming better listeners with the intent to help others communicate more effectively their needs and desires. This opened a whole new world for me. I am very glad I decide to pursue advanced training in mediation.
What keeps me around today is the sense of community and the opportunity to be of service to others in our community to find extraordinary solutions to what appears to be unresolvable problems in conflict. It also gives me an opportunity to be engaged with others in way that I never would have been without mediation training. It reminds me how fortunate I've been to be a member of the voluntary mediation community.
CMS has done a great job of promoting alternative dispute resolution in Vancouver. The small claims mediation project regularly saves the courts a lot of time and gives much better resolution results than a court trial could ever do. The support the staff provides for the State of Washington foreclosure program is both timely and heart felt. I can't say enough about the quality and commitment of the CMS staff.
Rick Barrier, Mediator