2016-594-E Finance - Dispute Settlement Center, Inc. - Outside Agency Performance Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID:6CD4A528-52AE-410E-B18B-BA619068A9AB t A - continued Provider's Outside Agency Application MAIN APPLICATION other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need for this program and the population being served. Orange County has a role to play in making sure that the local court system functions effectively. The increasingly crowded docket strains resources and lack of efficiency in case management could also mean increased crowding and liability in the local jail. Chief District Court Judge Joseph Buckner has said that his courthouse would "be in lock-down" without the assistance of Dispute Settlement Center mediators relieving the court of hundreds of cases each year. In addition, we believe that offering disputants a chance to sit down with mediators helps them reach lasting resolutions so that behaviors leading to warrants are less likely to be repeated. Families in Orange County need affordable mediation services when faced with separation and divorce, or eldercare transition issues. Numerous studies show that parental conflict can lead to behavioral issues in children (Jaffee 1997 et alia) According to Dr. Robert Emery's long-term research at University of Virginia's Center for Children, Families, and the Law, couples who mediate have better relationships with their children years later. In addition, as the population ages, more families struggle with transitions around care of elders. We offer a different way, beyond fighting, litigation, or suffering in silence. This includes assisting the Orange County Clerk of Court with family situations at his request. d) Describe the population to be served or the area to benefit and indicate how you will identify beneficiaries. In Orange County Criminal District Court, the judges and assistant district attorneys refer cases to us and we then screen for appropriateness and voluntariness. An appropriate case involves an interpersonal dispute (leading to, for example, charges of harassment, communicating a threat, injury to personal property, etc.) without domestic violence, in which the parties agree to mediate. Most court clients have very few resources and often need to get back to their jobs. They also need real resolution of the problem between themselves and their neighbor, co-worker, or family member. In the case of family mediation, clients are referred to Dispute Settlement Center through attorneys, therapists, or social services agencies, or self-referred. Medicaid Appeals cases are referred to us through a program through Office of Administrative Hearings. This program serves the very poor and disabled in Orange County who have been denied Medicaid services or support and have appealed the denial. e) Who specifically will carry out the activities and in what location will they be carried out? Our trained mediation staff (Mediation Coordinator with 20 years mediation experience, Mediator with a law degree and Certificate in Dispute Resolution, and executive director with law degree and 25 years mediation experience) will oversee staff and volunteer mediators who have 60 hours+ training in mediation, an apprenticeship, and experience. We attend court sessions for case referrals, and hold mediation sessions at our Carrboro offices. f) Describe specifically the period over which the activities will be carried out, the frequency with which the activities will be carried out, and the frequency with which services will be delivered. Include an implementation timeline. Main Application 5/24/2016 9:47:14 AM P of 2