About Us
History
Purpose
Goals
Program Overview
How to use Mediation
Fees
In the early 1980's, Common Ground
Dispute Resolution, Inc. was a program of Columbia Opportunities, located in Hudson, New York. In 1987, it
separated from Columbia Opportunities and incorporated as a 501(c)3
non-profit organization.
Common Ground Dispute Resolution, Inc.,
is part of a statewide network of mediation centers, established under Article
21 (A) of the New York State Judiciary Law. This program is funded by the New York State
Unified Court System.
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Common Ground's mission is,
appropriately, linked very closely to its work. The Agency's mission is:
to provide the citizens of Columbia and Greene Counties with an
efficient, self-directed process for resolution of personal, civil and
criminal disputes, experienced as part of every-day living.
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Its goals are:
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to serve the community as a
resource in resolving disputes;
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to train, develop and maintain a
panel of certified volunteer mediators;
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to assist the criminal justice
system in resolving civil, appropriate criminal and family issues; and
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to provide opportunities for
individuals to learn effective problem-solving skills.
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In addition to mediation services, we
provide training in mediation, conflict resolution, violence prevention and
parenting apart education. Specialized programs include special education
mediation, early intervention mediation, habitability disputes
at mobile home parks, new and used car lemon law arbitration and family
mediation.
Common Ground works with a cadre of over 40 volunteer mediators who have participated in a 35-hour, New York State certified
mediation training. Mediators who volunteer in specialized programs
have had additional substantive training within the specialized field in
order to qualify as a neutral. In addition, the Director, on a yearly basis,
re-certifies mediators.
Article 21(A) mandates that mediation
must be:
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confidential
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voluntary
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free to indigents
Mediation is not appropriate in cases
involving child abuse or neglect, or in situations where there is a
history of on-going domestic violence.
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If you have a problem that you think might be appropriate,
call Common Ground's offices, stop by or write to us. A staff member will
listen, take the pertinent information down and answer your questions. We
will contact the other party to see if he/she is interested in resolving
the issue through mediation. When both of you have consented, we will
arrange a mediation session within a week or two. You will meet with a
neutral third party, a trained mediator, who will help you draw up a
mutually satisfactory agreement.
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Mediations are free, with the exception of Divorce
Mediation. Those fees are on a sliding scale, based on the couple's
household income. (The range is $5/hour per couple to a ceiling of
$75/hour per couple.)
Educational workshops are fee-based.
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