Dear Supporter,

On behalf of Mediation Services of Ottawa and Allegan Counties, I want to thank you for your support.

Across Ottawa and Allegan Counties in 2018, we helped many more people resolve difficult disputes. In 2018, we helped an astonishing 43% more people in our community than in 2017.

In 2018, we served 2,015 people: 1,268 adults and 747 children.

Many more children were served as we began Restorative Practices programs in area schools, teaching students how to resolve conflicts in positive ways.

In 2018, our nearly 70 active volunteer mediators mediated the disputes referred to our agency. In June, we trained twenty-five new volunteers asmediators.

In September, we celebrated our agency’s 25th anniversary with a dinner that featured Justice, now Chief Justice, of the Michigan Supreme Court Bridget Mary McCormack who praised our agency, its volunteers, and theimportance of our conflict resolution work.

2018 was a year filled with progress and success. Progress happened as we moved our office from downtown to a new home renovated specifically to meet the needs of our team and those we serve. Success happened as our mediators resolved nearly 75% of conflicts at mediation.

Over 95% of mediation participants would recommend mediation.

Your support has changed and improved lives. It has strengthened families. And, it has made our community better.

We have been able to bring opportunity and hope to children and families experiencing major conflicts, helping them find solutions and peace instead.We look forward to continued progress in 2019, with your help and support.

We are so grateful for you.

With gratitude,

Elizabeth Giddings J.D.
Executive Director

PS. As we look to grow and expand our work to help more people reach peace over conflict, your continued support is more important than ever! Thank you!

SERVICES & CASE TYPES

  • Confidential: Issues are discussed privately in a calm, neutral environment.

  • Affordable: We strive to keep our prices within reach for all.

  • Fast: Often, we can schedule mediations within 3-4 weeks.

  • Convenient: Serving all of Ottawa and Allegan Counties, we can arrange a time and location that works for you.

  • Successful: Almost 75% of cases end in a written agreement.

  • Fair: You decide what’s fair for you. You are in charge of the solution.

In 2018, we served 1,268 Adults and 747 children.

2014-2018 INCREASE IN CHILDREN SERVED.

DISPUTE TYPES

INCOME & EXPENSES

INCOME SOURCE: TOTAL $451,318.19

SCAO CDRP Grant $49,060.34
Other Grant Income $28,100.03
Service Contracts $62,524.20
Training Fees $11,310.00
Mediation Fees $27,705.25
Other Revenue $93.92
Donations $76,139.07
In-Kind Donation $196,385.38
Total $451,318.19

DONORS:

Allegan Women Who Care Holland Women Who Care Do Good Consulting, P.L.L.C.
Edward Grafton, P.L.C. The Law Office of Kenneth Puzycki. P.C. Legal Aid Of West Michigan
Lorence & Vander Zwart, P.C. Hon. Margaret & Carey Bakker Richard & Lynne Balkema
Doug Becker Jack & Cindy Bender David Bosscher
Kevin J. Bowling Melissa Brown Hon. Michael Buck
Hon. Craig & Donna Bunce John & Mary Buttrey John Canfield
Sylvia Castillo Carol Ceitham Dotti Clune
Cheryl & Jim Cnossen Connie & Larry Corriveau Steven & Maria Darrow
Patricia Denner Jennifer DeYoung Rodger Drueke
Pat & Judy Fabiano Linda Falstad Hon. Mark & Debra Feyen
Susan and Nathan Franklin Rev. Kent Fry Lisa Galdikas
Gordon & Tamela Gallagher Elizabeth Giddings Nathaniel & Julia Giddings
Jack & Martha Gisinger Judy Grafff Dorothy Hanson
Jim Hanson James & Wilma Hart Tim & Anne Hemingway
Drs. Bill & Maria Hoekstra Kay Hubbard Mary Irons
Hon. Roberts & Shelley Kengis Maria and Daniel Klompmaker Susan Klooz
Laketown Township Elissa Lappenga Greg Lynas
Samuel Martin Denise Nestel Robert Nida
Olivia Noack Frances Oleson Jacquelyn & Jody Olney
Diana Ostermann Anne Porter Danielle Potter
Amanda & Rodger Price Gail Ringelberg Dr. Theodore Roman
Emily Schwartz Alberto & Celia Serrano Tom & Penny Shuff
Margaret Spyker Heidi Stray Mike & Renae Van Ast
Kristi & Tom Van Howe Nick Van Zantan Hon. Jon & Sue Van Allsburg
David Van Doorne Brad Weber Anna & Joshua White
Robert & Heather Worthington Kelly & Tony Wyse Mary Young

Mediation Services helps everyone in the community regardless of their financial circumstances. As a non-profit, we strive to keep our services affordable to all and depend on grants and donations. We waived over $16,000 in fees for those with financial need in 2018.

EXPENSES: TOTAL $455,258.95

1. Utilities
2. Bank Service Charges
3. Salaries
4. Fringe Benefits
5. Training
6. Contractual
7. Travel
8. Equipment
9. Technology Access & Support
10. Cleaning
11. Repairs & Maintenance
12. Rent
13. Supplies
3,446.01
10.00
142495.50
20,476.11
15,316.94
1,540.00
3973.01
324.99
3399.34
1050.00
503.00
11,933.33
3,771.93
14. Telephone & Internet
15. Postage
16. Printing
17. Insurance
18. Dues & Subscriptions
19. Advertising
20. Professional Fees
21. Misc Expense
22. Moving Expenses
23. Fundraising Costs
24. In-Kind Expenses
 
TOTAL
4,499.98
1,358.80
413.40
2,313.53
1,346.00
5,469.33
5,305.00
2,417.88
13,908.95
13,600.54
196,385.38
 
$455,258.95

GRANT & FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

2018 PARTICIPANTS SURVEY RESULTS

74% MEDIATION RESOLUTION RATE

1. Did the mediator explain to you what mediation would involve? 99.6%
2. Did you feel the mediator(s) maintained his/her neutrality? 98.6%
3. During the mediation session, did you have the opportunity to fully express your views? 98.6%
4. Were issues important to you identified and discussed in the meditation session? 98.8%
5. Were you treated with respect by the mediator(s)? 99.8%
6. Would you recommend mediation to a friend? 96.4%
7. Did using mediation help you speak up for yourself and your needs/interests? 96.7%
8. Do you prefer mediation for resolving/attempting to resolve issues? 95.0%
9. Are you satisfied with our services? 97.6%
“I felt like we worked as a group to fix the situation.”
“I felt I was heard”
“[I was] able to keep things more private and personal.”
“the best way to resolve issues”

VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS & RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS

Jane Anderson
Pete Armstrong
Richard Balkema
Marissa Barkema
Anna Bednarek
Rita Blankenship
Cheryl Breithaupt
Linda Brooks
Melissa Brown
John Buttrey
Sandra Cammenga
Sylvia Castillo
Carol Ceithaml
Barbara Cherry
David Clark
Dorothy Clune
Cheryl Cnossen
Rodger Drueke
Pat Fabiano
Deborah Fergus
Esther Fifelski
Gordon Gallagher
Caleb Gonzalez
Edward Grafton
Kurt Hatfield
Roy Hebert
Mary Irons
Shannon Kapala
Melissa Kelleigh
Susan Klooz
Karen Lamb
Sheri Lankheet
Elissa Lappenga
Anne Maring
Walter Marston
Reyna Masko
Michelle Morrow
Conrad Mutschler
Denise Nestel
Gabi Nolte-Hoetzel
Patricia Oisten
David Prout
Gail Ringelberg
Jeff Roffey
Brett Schlender
Matthew Schmid
Loretta Smith
Vicki South
Daniel Stauffer
Amanda Sterkenburg
Laurie Tange
Anne Todd
Renae Van Ast
Michael Van Ast
Kristi VanHowe
Nick VanZanten
Anne VanderBroek
Amanda Westendorp
Anna White
Alana Wiaduck
Kyle Wilke
Janice Williams
Heidi Wolf
Kristen Wolfram
Jeanne Yetman



HUMAN BEINGS ARE HAPPIER and more cooperative and productive and more likely to MAKE LASTING CHANGES in their behavior when those in positions of authority
DO THINGS WITH THEM - rather than to them or for them.

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

  1. Restorative Practices offers a method to build relationships between all members of school communities.
  2. Restorative Practices facilitators provide a positive way for students and staff to work out differences, repair relationships, and make plans to repair the harm caused by inappropriate and disruptive behavior.
  3. Mediation Services provides these services to area schools through training, coaching, and providing facilitators.
  4. Our pilot program with Allegan Alternative High School has shown dramatic drops of 50+ percent in detentions and suspensions.
  5. Mediation Services has a fulltime facilitator placed in Fennville Middle School. As a result, in school suspensions have dropped 48 percent and out of school suspensions have decreased by 38 percent.
  6. Mediation Services has provided Restorative Practices coaching and training to the entire Pullman Elementary staff.