Our Organization
Our mission, vision, and values
Our Mission
We promote meaningful pathways for everyone to engage with conflict, to learn from each other, and to grow in community.
Our Vision
Inclusive communities where everyone reaches across differences with openness, creativity, and respect.
Our Values
Equity
We work to advance fair treatment, opportunities, and outcomes across race, gender, class, and other dynamics in order to eliminate injustices.
Collaboration
We achieve the best outcomes for clients and communities when we work together across staff, board, volunteers, and partners.
Community-focus
The needs and concerns of the communities and people we serve drive the work we do and services we deliver.
Learning
We embrace conflict as an opportunity for everyone to grow and develop skills and potential for compassion, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Trust
We choose to start with best intentions of everyone, and we strive to earn the confidence of each person we work with by demonstrating respect, being accountable in our actions, and communicating transparently.
Let us help resolve your conflicts!
The Dispute Resolution Center of King County is a nonprofit organization that offers low-cost mediation and conflict resolution services for individuals, businesses, and families in King County. Formed under Chapter 7.75 of the Revised Code of Washington and in operation since 1986, our services include:
- Community mediations
- Small Claims Court mediation
- Conflict coaching
- Youth development
- Restorative practices
- Group facilitation
- Information and referral
- Training
Mediation works to solve problems for residents and businesses every day. Professional mediators from the community are trained facilitators who volunteer their time to reduce conflict in our community. Last year, they helped to resolve more than 7,500 disputes in Seattle and throughout King County. We use virtual mediations for the safety and convenience of everyone involved. Get started setting up a mediation to solve your problem by completing this form.
“This was a comfortable and successful process. We discovered additional information we were not aware of which helped us reach a fair agreement. The mediators were extremely helpful and did a wonderful job.“
Our History
In 1984 the Washington State Legislature adopted the Court Improvement Act. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) legislation outlined five goals for the establishment of dispute resolution centers.
- To stimulate the development and use of Dispute Resolution Centers as an alternative to the courts for resolving certain issues;
- To encourage community participation in local Dispute Resolution Programs;
- To develop structures which can serve as models for other Dispute Resolution Centers;
- To resolve disputes within the community, and;
- To educate the community about dispute resolution and prevention.
Since 1984, 20 Dispute Resolution Centers have been established to provide alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and training services. DRCs are mandated to provide services independent of a clients’ ability to pay, guaranteeing that all citizens have access to a low-cost resolution process when they can’t afford costly litigation and/or when they want to work things out directly with the others involved.
There are currently 20 Dispute Resolution Centers in Washington serving 94% of the state’s population. Together the DRCs in Washington serve over 80,000 people each year with the help of over 45,000 volunteer hours. To find a dispute resolution center near you check out the web site for Resolution Washington, the association of Dispute Resolution Centers.
Legislation and Ethics
Legislation governing Dispute Resolution Centers
The Dispute Resolution Center of King County is a private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization authorized by local state legislation, Revised Code of Washington RCW 7.75, which guides the activities of dispute resolution centers in Washington. This state legislation created a funding mechanism that enables each county to determine the amount of a surcharge to attach to certain local court fees. King Count Ordinances 4.82.010 and 4.82.020 determine the amount of the surcharge that King County will attach to the local Small Claims Court and District Court civil filing fees which are then passed through to the DRC of King County. The DRC currently receives approximately 65% of its operating budget through this surcharge funding mechanism.
The DRC is guided by the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and the Washington State Uniform Mediation Act.
Ethical guidelines
The Dispute Resolution Center is guided by ethical standards that can be found in the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and the Washington State Uniform Mediation Act. All mediators are required to adhere to these standards and the Dispute Resolution Center regularly conducts training on these guidelines. The Uniform Mediation Act adopted in 2005, assures clients of confidentiality and privilege in the mediation proceedings and documents. One notable exception that is not considered confidential is the revelation of the intent or ongoing abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person or the intent or admission of a crime. These two exceptions are not confidential and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.