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
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Confidential: Issues are discussed privately in a calm, neutral environment.
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Affordable: We strive to keep our prices within reach for all.
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Fast: Often, we can schedule mediations within 3-4 weeks.
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Convenient: Serving all of Ottawa and Allegan Counties, we can arrange a time and location that works for you.
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Successful: Almost 75% of cases end in a written agreement.
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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
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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
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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 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
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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
- Restorative Practices offers a method to build relationships between all members of school communities.
- 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.
- Mediation Services provides these services to area schools through training, coaching, and providing facilitators.
- Our pilot program with Allegan Alternative High School has shown dramatic drops of 50+ percent in detentions and suspensions.
- 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.
- Mediation Services has provided Restorative Practices coaching and training to the entire Pullman Elementary staff.
