Family Mediation
- Youth Mediation Participant
Resolutions Northwest's Family Mediation Program works with families to move through difficult conversations and address conflict in meaningful and productive ways. We ensure that each family member's voice is heard and understood; we also create a space for family members to listen and honor others' perspectives.
We believe that personal empowerment leads to improved relationships. We believe that YOU know the solutions. Our job is to use the mediation process as a tool to create safety and creatively brainstorm new solutions.
The types of cases we work with include:
• Youth and family issues and conflict
• Elder care essues and conflict
• Adult sibling issues and conflict
• Couples issues and conflicts
This service is offered on a sliding scale with the session fee based on a family's gross income (see below) however, no family will be turned away for inability to pay. In addition to fees, our program is funded in part by the Oregon Office for Community Dispute Resolution and we also rely on donations for a portion of the program's expenses.
Our program uses trained family mediators who are coached and mentored by our staff of professional mediators. For family mediations where one of the parties is a youth, RNW uses a mediation team made up of one adult mediator and one trained youth mediator. The mediators meet with both parties in the conflict and help the parties find their own solution. Over 94% of community members who have used our services report satisfaction with the mediation process and the agreements reached during mediation.
How our mediation program works
1. The first step is to contact our office. Any member of the family can call our main office number 503-595-4890. Our front office staff will conduct a brief intake over the telephone and can answer questions about the service. Next, you will receive a call from one of our case developers who will talk with you in greater depth about the issues you would like to discuss at the mediation and who will answer any additional questions you may have. The case developer will make a plan with you about how to contact the other people you wish to participate with in mediation. Then, we will schedule a session date and time with you.
2. If you decide you would like to move forward with mediation, we will contact the other parties, listen to their concerns and invite them to mediation. If all parties agree to move forward with a face-to-face mediation, we will schedule a session date, place and time with you.
3. If everyone agrees, all involved persons come to an hour and half session with the co-mediators. The mediators will then explain the process, answer questions and begin the mediation. The number of sessions required for family mediations will be determined by the complexity of the issues to be resolved.
Finally, it is important to remember that mediation is a voluntary process and that the mediators are impartial in the process. Mediators do not "represent" either side" and mediators do not act as a judge deciding on evidence. Mediators simply help the parties discuss the issues together and most often help the parties create an agreement that works for both sides.
Family Mediation services are provided in English and Spanish by bi-lingual staff and volunteers. We also offer our services with interpreters (as needed) for all other languages in partnership with other community-based organizations who have additional language capacities.
Sliding Scale Fees for family mediation
Our family mediation services include a $10 for an intake. In addition, the sliding scale fee for each mediation session is based on a family's gross income, as noted below.
Gross Income Per Session/Per Household
$0 to $2000/month $20
$2001-$3000 $50
$3001-$4000 $75
$4001-$5000 $100
$5000 and up $125
For all mediation services clients will be responsible for a $25 rescheduling fee if they fail to show up without 24 hours advance cancellation notice.
