Community mediation centers are characterized by the following:

• Trained community volunteer mediators provide services.
• Centers are non-profit or public community-based agencies.
• Staff, volunteer mediators, and board members represent a cross-section of the community.
• Services are easily affordable and accessible.
• Centers collaborate throughout the community to promote positive social change.
• Centers educate community members about the value of mediation through marketing and training.
• Centers promote the use of mediation at the earliest stages of conflict.
• Centers offer mediation at any stage of conflict as an alternative to the court system.

DRC stands for Dispute Resolution Center. In Washington State, legislation was passed in 1984 (Court Reorganization Act, Revised Code of Washington 7.75) that enables county or city governments to authorize the establishment of a DRC in that jurisdiction. Since the law was passed, 20 DRC's covering more than 90% of the state's population have been established under the legislation. Most are not-for-profit agencies, and a few are departments of municipal or county government. DRC's offer mediation services to any residents who have disputes. DRC's also offer training in conflict resolution skills to community members including householders, students, and workers.

In Thurston County, residents interested in creating a DRC went about an organizing effort between 1989 and 1991. In March of 1991, the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County was authorized by the County Commissioners under RCW 7.75 and opened for business. The DRC has grown much in the intervening years, from one part-time employee to 8 part-time employees, from a small attic office to a professional office space in downtown Olympia. Our annual budget has grown from $40,000 to over $200,000. Our case load of mediations has expanded from 50 mediations per year to over 300 per year.

The DRC is the largest provider of conflict resolution services and training in the South Puget Sound area. The DRC trains over 500 people per year in mediation, conflict resolution and communication skills. We offer a wide variety of standard courses, including our 40-Hour Professional Mediation Training, our 20-Hour Advanced Family Mediation Training, our 20-Hour Advanced Multi-Party Mediation Training, our popular Essentials of Facilitating Effective Meetings Training and our Victim Offender Mediation Training. We also offer custom-designed trainings for groups, faith communities, businesses and governmental agencies that range from 1 hour to several days.

A practicum leading to certification by the DRC as a Senior Mediator is available to individuals who have completed the 40-Hour Professional Mediator Training. It includes a written exam based on the 40-hour course, the observation of at least 6 mediation cases, performing a final mock mediation, and co-mediating at least 6 more mediation cases with a senior co-mediator. The DRC certifies on average 12 mediators per year.

The DRC has a wide and diverse funding base. Over 20% of our funding comes from fees from mediations and another 20% from fees for trainings. Almost 20% is from a surcharge the County Commission placed on District and Small Claims Court filings. Another 10% is from the general funds of the municipal and county jurisdictions. Around 15% comes from donations, and another 15% from grants.