Washington State Dispute Resolution Centers

DRCs do not offer counseling or therapy, and they do not give legal advice. DRCs were authorized by the state legislature in the 1984 Court Improvement Act. Each DRC is a private, nonprofit organization or a service of local government.

Most DRCs offer mediation as their primary conflict resolution service. In mediation, a trained, neutral person helps people discuss and resolve problems, or at least narrow and clarify issues. The process encourages joint problem-solving in which people gain an understanding of each other's point of view. Mediation provides a safe environment to talk through issues and feelings and to negotiate a mutually satisfactory solution. The mediator is a professionally trained community member whose role is to assist the parties in communicating and understanding their issues and interests. The mediator is not a decision-maker.

Any civil, nonviolent dispute is a candidate for mediation. Some DRCs also accept criminal cases. For mediation to be successful, every participant must be willing to enter into good faith negotiations. Typical cases handled by DRCs involve:

Landlords and tenants,
Consumers and merchants,
Neighbors,
Citizens and agencies,
Employees and employers,
Families, and
Divorcing and divorced couples.

DRCs also mediate small claims cases and public policy issues. DRCs provide free services or use a sliding fee scale based on income. Contact your local DRC (see listing below) for more information about their services, fees and mediator qualifications.

Association of Washington State DRCs Roster:

Benton County

Benton/Franklin DRC

5219 W Clearwater, Ste 11 Kennewick WA 99336 Phone: 509-783-3325 Fax: 509-783-3449 Email: bfdrc@bfdrc.org URL: www.bfdrc.org

Chelan County

Wenatchee Valley DRC

PO Box 3391 Wenatchee WA 98807 Phone: 509-888-0957

Clallam County

Peninsula DRC

PO Box 1034 Port Angeles WA 98362-3015 Phone: 360-452-8024 Email: pdrc@olypen.com URL: www.pdrc.org Fax: 360-425-0458 800-452-8024

Clark County

Community Mediation Services

610 Esther St PO Box 1995 Vancouver WA 98668-1995 Phone: 360-619-1140 Fax: 360-696-8009 Email: community.mediation@ci.vancouver.wa.us URL: www.ci.vancouver.wa.us/mediation/

Douglas County

Wenatchee Valley DRC

PO Box 3391 Wenatchee WA 98807 Phone: 509-888-0957 Email: wvdrc@nwi.net

Grays Harbor County

Mediation and Settlement Center

1620 Edward P Smith Drive #219 Aberdeen WA 98520 Phone: 360-532-8950 Fax: 360-532-8763 Email: coastaldrc@techline.com 888-874-3820 URL: www.fp1.centurytel.net/mediationcenter

Island County

DRC of Snohomish and Island Counties

2801 Lombard St PO Box 839 Everett WA 98206-0839 Phone: 425-609-2208 800-280-4770 Fax: 425-259-2110 Email: drc@voaww.org URL: www.voaww.org/drc

Jefferson County

Peninsula DRC

PO Box 1034 Port Angeles WA 98362-3015 Phone: 360-452-8024 800-452-8024 Fax: 360-249-1926 Email: pdrc@olypen.com URL: www.pdrc.org

King County

Bellevue Neighborhood Mediation Program

PO Box 90012 Bellevue WA 98009-9012 Phone: 425-452-4091 Fax: 425-452-7115 URL: www.bellevuewa.gov/mediation_intro.htm

DRC of King County

At the Good Shepherd Center 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Ste 520 Seattle WA 98103 Phone: 206-443-9603 Fax: 206-443-9737 URL: www.kcdrc.org/ Email: drc@kcdrc.org

Mediation Clinic, UW School of Law

William H Gates Hall, Rm 265 PO Box 353020 Seattle WA 98195-3020 Phone: 206-685-4140 Email: mediates@u.washington.edu URL: www.law.washington.edu/Clinics/MediationClients.html

Kitsap County

DRC of Kitsap County

9004 Washington Ave NW Silverdale WA 98383 Phone: 360-698-0968 Fax: 360-613-1852 800-377-6583 Email: drc@kitsapdrc.org URL: www.kitsapdrc.org

Kittitas County

DRC of Kittitas and Yakima Counties

303 East D St Ste 4 Yakima WA 98901-2300 Phone: 509-453-8949 Phone: 509-925-5123 (Ellensburg) 800-853-8949 Fax: 509-453-0910 Email: info@drcyakima.org URL: www.drcyakima.org

Lewis County

DRC of Lewis County

57 W Main St, Ste 165 Chehalis WA 98532 Phone: 360-748-0492 Fax: 360-748-7717 Email: drclc@localaccess.com

Okanogan County

Okanogan County Dispute Resolution Center

17 S Ash PO Box 3567 Omak WA 98841 Phone: 509-826-1776 Email: drc@ncidata.com

Pacific County

Mediation and Settlement Center

1620 Edward P Smith Drive, #219 Aberdeen WA 98520 Phone: 360-532-8950 Fax: 360-532-8763 Email: coastaldrc@techline.com 888-874-3820 URL: www.fp1.centurytel.net/mediationcenter

Pierce County

Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution

738 Broadway, Ste 400 Tacoma WA 98402 Phone: 253-572-3657 Fax: 253-572-3579 URL: www.pccdr.org Email: clientservices@pccdr.org

Skagit County

Mediation & Facilitation Services

1714 S Second St Mount Vernon WA 98273 Phone: 360-336-9494 Fax: 360-419-3392 Email: mediation@co.skagit.wa.us URL: www.skagitcounty.net/mediationservices

Spokane County

Northwest Conflict Management Center

35 W Main Ave, Ste 230 Spokane WA 99201-4301 Phone: 509-456-0103 Email: NWmediation@qwest.net URL: www.nwconflict.com Fax: 509-462-0525

Fulcrum Institute Dispute Resolution Clinic

915 W 2nd Ave, Ste 1 Spokane WA 99201 Phone: 509-838-2799 Fax: 509-838-5588 URL: www.fulcrumdispute.com

Thurston County

DRC of Thurston County

312 E 4th PO Box 6184 Olympia WA 98507 Phone: 360-956-1155 Fax: 360-357-5168 Email: eferber@mediatethurston.org URL: www.mediatethurston.org

Walla Walla County

Neutral Ground

717 N Main PO Box 1222 Walla Walla WA 99362 Phone: 509-522-0399 Fax: 509-522-0415 Email: clarkbh@charter.net

Whatcom County

Whatcom County Dispute Resolution Center

13 Prospect St Bellingham WA 98225 Phone: 360-676-0122 Fax: 360-676-0783 Email: wdrc@whatcomdrc.org URL: www.whatcomdrc.org

Yakima County

DRC of Kittitas and Yakima Counties

303 East D St, Ste 4 Yakima WA 98901-2300 Phone: 509-453-8949 Phone: 509-925-5123 (Ellensburg) 800-853-8949 Fax: 509-453-0910 Email: info@drcyakima.org URL: www.drcyakima.org