Where Community Mediation Services can Help
- Neighborhood
- Conflict Coaching
- Landlord/Tenant
- Parenting Plans
- Elder Care Issues
- Home Foreclosures
- Small Claims
- Business to Business
- Contracts
- Workplace Disputes
- Schools
How it Works
In the Beginning
Your mediators will introduce the parties and discuss how the process will work. Everyone involved in the dispute will have a chance to share their point of view and say what they hope the mediation will accomplish.
Building Consensus
All parties brainstorm and discuss possible solutions that address everyone’s needs.
Defining Issues
Your mediators will facilitate discussion around the conflict to reveal the core problems, underlying needs and concerns of each party.
Writing an Agreement
When agreement is reached, your mediators will help you write down a statement clarifying what it is that both of you have agreed to and articulating the steps you will take moving forward.
Conflict Coaching
Conflict Coaching is a one-on-one session with a trained facilitator, or coach, to assist with conflict management. The coach's role is to help the individual analyze the conflict and explore options for navigating it. The coach is neutral and does not take sides, give specific advice, or advocate for a particular course of action. The conflict coach uses process skills to help the client develop more clarity about the situation, enabling the client to effectively and confidently make high-quality decisions to manage the conflict. The conflict coach can help the client rehearse a conversation and suggest language so that the client is prepared to more confidently enter into the conflict resolution discussion.
Conflict coaching can help individuals:
- Gain confidence in managing conflict
- Develop skills and tools to effectively manage conflict
- Identify goals and explore potential solutions, and gain insight and self-awareness
- Conflict coaching can be used in a variety of settings, including neighborhood, family, or workplace spaces. The benefits of these services include reducing tensions and disagreement, improving communication, and fostering a stronger sense of cohesion and collaboration.
Neighbor Mediation
CMS can help resolve conflicts between neighbors in a peaceful, constructive manner. We offer neutral, trained mediators who can help individuals discuss their issues in a safe, structured environment. The goal is to promote mutual understanding and facilitate cooperative problem-solving without resorting to legal action or prolonged disputes.
CMS mediators can address common neighborhood conflicts such as noise complaints, property boundaries, pet-related issues, parking, and shared spaces. Mediation sessions are confidential, voluntary, and designed to empower participants to create their own solutions using a needs based lens. Mediators guide the conversation, helping each party express their concerns, listen to each other, and negotiate an agreement that works for everyone involved. By focusing on communication and collaboration, the program aims to strengthen neighborhood relationships and promote a sense of community.
CMS offers a sliding scale fee schedule for all disputes. You can find more information on our service fees and sliding scale guidelines here ( insert link to service fees page ). CMS neighbor mediation program is offered at no cost to residents of Multnomah county.
Parenting Plans
Community Mediation Services offers parenting plan revisions that include sliding scale fees. Please contact us by emailing us at
