Twenty years of community mediation
Posted by Jefferson County Mediation Services on April 1, 2015 in Arvada, Conifer, Edgewater, Evergreen, Golden, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Business, Lakewood, Littleton, Morrison, South Jeffco, Wheat Ridge
On January 1, 1994, Jefferson County Mediation Services (JCMS) opened its doors. It was housed in a cubicle in the Jeffco Human Services building, and consisted of a computer, a part-time contract administrator, and funds to train the first ten volunteers. The contract administrator, Mark Loye, recruited ten more mediators with previous training and experience, allowing the use of the co-mediation model (an experienced lead mediator working with a trained rookie).
In February, 1994 the first case was referred by Jeffco Animal Control – neighbors unhappy with each other about barking dogs. Instead of making repeated calls to law enforcement, the neighbors sat down and talked with each other with the assistance of the trained mediators. By the end of 1994, 69 cases had been handled by the program, and community mediation was a reality in Jefferson County, Colorado!
In 2014 the mediation program had 250 volunteer mediators and handled 1562 cases. The little experimental program is all grown up! Like its predecessors, the present Jefferson County Board of Commissioners supports the program with a yearly appropriation from the County’s general fund. This small investment continues to provide a large return. Today JCMS is the largest and most comprehensive and innovative community mediation program in Colorado.
JCMS embarks on new adventures in conflict resolution all the time. Today JCMS saves Jefferson County thousands of dollars a year by resolving disputes that had been requiring repeated trips and time investment by law enforcement, County staff, school staff and others.
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