Mediation Services including Family (divorce,child custody/visitation, parenting plans), Intergenerational issues (elder care - daily or long term care, guardianship/power
of attorney, financial issues, visitation of grandchildren), Restorative justice - victim/offender, Business and Consumer matters, Employment and work place concerns, Landlord/Tenant disputes, Special education, and Other civil matters.

Large and small group facilitation.

Parent education workshop for parents experiencing divorce or have custody/visitation issues.

Family group conferencing.

Conflict resolution training.

Mediation for all types of situations.

Family mediation for family and juvenile matters, divorce and post divorce matters, parenting act plans.

Business mediation for employer/employee, intra-organizational conflict, business and consumer matters.

Community mediation for cross-cultural disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, neighbor and community disputes.

School mediation for school, parent, student, peer, and special education matters.

Court mediation for small claims court disputes or other civil matters.

A private, confidential, cooperative and voluntary process in which an impartial team helps individuals resolve and settle issues.

Helps with parenting after a separation or divorce, offering joint parenting sessions at no cost to any Iowa parents.

Sessions are designed to help parents find common ground, reduce conflict, improve communication and design a communication plan, resolve parenting disputes, craft parenting plans.

Offers a unique child-centered approach helps keep kids out of the middle and helps parents make progress.

Kids First serves as a neutral exchange location for parents who need help exchanging their children peacefully.

Provides a child-friendly environment that ensures a smooth transition for children from one parent to the other without the parents meeting. Kids First also coaches parents so they can work toward having conflict-free exchanges on their own. Exchanges are free.

Offers Polk County residents several programs if they qualify as an alternative to the justice system.

MEDIATION is a confidential and "out-of-court" procedure which gives parties involved in a dispute a chance to meet and, with the help of a mediator, reach a resolution or agreement.

TRUANCY COURT PROGRAM is a joint effort between the Polk County Attorney's Office, the Des Moines Public Schools and the Polk County District Court to reach the parents of truant children between the ages of 6 to 16 years before the filing of formal charges.

VOD, or Victim-Offender Dialogue, offers crime victims the opportunity to confront offenders in a controlled setting with the assistance of a trained facilitator.

CHILD WELFARE MEDIATION assists parents and other involved adults in developing cooperative solutions for children and families.

YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM uses a community approach to the rehabilitation of youthful offenders and is designed as an alternative for targeted offenders to divert them from prison sentences or ineffective probation sentences by providing programming in the areas needed.

JUVENILE DIVERSION SHOPLIFTING PROGRAM is for youth involved with the juvenile court system that meet with a facilitator, program staff and an individual from a volunteering business within the community to hear the impact Theft has on the community as a whole.

JUVENILE FIRE DIVERSION PROGRAM is to enable youth to understand the costs and dangers that exist with fire starting behavior by choosing better options besides fire starting. Youth will meet with a Fire Chief and complete some form of restitution that is mutually decided during a mediation with the chief.

VOLUNTARY PAYMENT PLANS and wage assignments are for those that don't qualify for LRP or who have court debt that is not traffic related. Staff will assist setting up a payment plan to get them off probation and their vehicle(s) registered.

COLLECTIONS FOR VICTIM RESTITUTION for Polk County victims who have been victimized by a crime, restitution has been ordered but payments are not being made.

Provides professional services to defuse family conflicts that can lead to family abduction, child abuse, and the sense of hopelessness that can cause children to run away.

Offers crisis intervention, conflict management, communication/parenting skill-building, safety planning, and more.

Information & Referral services provide additional options and resources regarding legal assistance, financial challenges, child support, kinship care, domestic violence, child abuse, youth-at-risk and other issues related to child well-being.

Services provided via phone or online.

Mediation for dispute settlement, such as divorce, child custody, small claims, consumer business, tenant/landlord, estate settlement and planning, debt, etc.

Elder mediation with families of elderly to make decisions.

Juvenile parole/probation mediation when conflict in the youth's life increases the risk of further law violation or incarceration.

Offers large group facilitation, conflict resolution training workshops, and family group conferencing.

Offers farmers and ranchers mediation as an effective means to resolve agricultural disputes. The mediation process maintains confidentiality, fosters positive relationships, allows participants a voice in the solution and is cost effective.

Free one-on-one clinics are held monthly at various sites throughout Nebraska. Professionals provide education and resources on mediation, farm finances, legal matters, farm succession planning and USDA farm programs.

Dispute resolution professionals assist individuals and families in reaching mutually acceptable agreements to resolve conflict through the use of mediation. Cases most often mediated include parenting plans, divorce settlements, neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, business and consumer matters, educational concerns, work-place disputes, Small Claims Court, etc. Also provides group/meeting facilitation and conflict resolution skills training.

Creates pathways of constructive dialogue for conflict prevention and resolution through the processes of mediation, facilitation and education. Provides progressive, empowering, and creative approaches to preventing, addressing and resolving conflict and making effective decisions.

Offers mediation for any disputes, including those between consumers and businesses, neighbors, landlords and tenants, parents and adolescents, couples (including divorce and custody), communities, families, churches, civic groups, and others. Also offers organizational support through facilitation, strategic planning, and training.

Offers mediation services to anyone that is need a 3rd party to navigate through a conflict.

Offers the following dispute resolution services:

- Mediation - Mediation can be a less expensive alternative to litigation. Typically mediation occurs between both parents and a neutral mediator.

- Parenting Coordination - Parenting coordination is a child-centered option for resolving common or day-to-day conflicts between divorced parents. Not only does this service help resolve disputes between parents without the need to go to court, it also gives parents tools and techniques to work together and find child-focused solutions to their conflicts.

- Neutral Evaluation - The goal of neutral evaluation is to improve communication between disputing parties and provide everyone with a better understanding of important issues. During this process, a neutral expert assesses the case and works to understand each party.

Provides statewide conflict management services through mediation, facilitation and training. Disputes can include, but are not limited to, farmer/creditor, farm nuisance disputes, livestock care and feeding contract disputes, family issues, public policy cases and community-wide issues.

Truancy/School Districts: Parents may request services for children with truancy concerns. Any party may request this help in an effort to resolve difficulties.

Mandatory participation may be required in some of the above listed areas.

Offers free mortgage counseling for homeowners and will help with a third-party mediation to help get modifications on home loans. Works in conjunction with Iowa Legal Aid if legal services are needed during the advocacy process.

Handles complaints of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment.

Human relations education.

Mediation for any level of conflict resolution.

Team building exercises.

Schedules meetings with disputing parties in safe, neutral, barrier-free settings.

Examples of parties the agency works with:

-- Families experiencing the crisis of divorce to reach peaceful custody and parenting agreements
-- Juvenile offenders, to see the harm caused by their crimes, rebuild trust and reduce recidivism
-- Neighbors facing property disputes in small claims court
-- Parents and their children who are involved in the child welfare system
-- Companies challenged with internal employee disputes, learning new ways to communicate
-- Parents who have concerns regarding their special needs child's instructional path
-- Relatives navigating the care of their elders
-- Tenants facing eviction and homelessness have an option to connect to funding resources and reach agreements to remain in their current housing or create a structured path forward
-- Landlords looking at way to keep tenants in occupancy via currently available rental and utility assistance