START A MEDIATION CASECommunity Mediation
- Family & Relationship Issues
- Neighbor Conflict
- Landlord/Tenant Issues
- Business Transactions
- Workplace Disputes
- Zoning & Permit Planning
- Police & Court Referrals
Got conflict? Our trained, impartial mediators can help you negotiate a solution that works for both parties.
What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a way to resolve a conflict without fighting, going to court, or giving in. A neutral mediator helps people in conflict:
- Identify the issues and each party’s interests
- Communicate for better understanding
- Develop creative solutions
- Negotiate a lasting agreement that works for everyone
SEEDS’ Mediation services are
- Restorative: Mediation honors relationships and helps build better communication and understanding.
- Effective: 75-80% of cases end with a satisfactory resolution for all.
- Confidential: Statements you make in mediation cannot be used in civil court without your permission.
- Affordable: Sliding scale means no one is turned away because of inability to pay.
What Mediation is NOT
SEEDS’ Mediation services are NOT arbitration. Mediation agreements are not legally binding, and mediators do not decide who is right or wrong. The parties make the agreement; the mediators are there to help the parties communicate. We do not handle cases involving criminal behavior, nor do we give legal advice, but we can refer you to the appropriate legal agency to help with your case.
Learn More
Read a description of the community mediation process. Or, if you have a mediation scheduled, download and print “What to Expect at Community Mediation.”
Find Your Services
SEEDS offers different types of mediation services for different situations.
- For individuals: For conflicts between two people (neighbors, relatives, landlord/tenant, and more), SEEDS offers Community Mediation, in which both parties meet with one or more trained mediators to find a solution to their conflict.
- For organizations (both nonprofit agencies and for-profit businesses), SEEDS provides workplace mediation services to work out conflicts between coworkers, supervisor/subordinates, etc. We can also help with vendor contracts, consumer or client relationships, partnership agreements, and community or neighborhood issues, and serve as an informal EAP for employees.
- For public agencies, SEEDS offers similar mediation services to those used by organizations. In addition, we can integrate mediation into administrative procedures and ordinances, reducing frustration and increasing citizen involvement and satisfaction. Examples include zoning, permit planning, code enforcement, landlord/tenant, and police/citizen complaints. SEEDS can also set up a system in your community to handle police, court, and probation referrals for mediation, easing the burden on the courts and promoting harmony.
Community Mediation Success Stories
Read more about the effectiveness of community mediation.
Court-Recommended Mediation
SEEDS provides same-day mediation in Small Claims Court in Hayward, and in Civil Harassment Court in Oakland and Hayward. Mediation reduces court costs, increases the parties’ investment and involvement in the process, and increases satisfaction with the process and the outcome.
Small Claims Court Mediation, Hayward
Many small claims cases can be settled by mediation, without requiring a judge’s ruling. The parties who come to us for mediation have mostly never mediated before, and do not expect to be able to work out a solution themselves. Even so, 70% of parties reach an agreement, and more than 80% of all parties, even those who do not reach agreement, indicate in their evaluations that they are very satisfied with the mediation process.
Civil Harassment Court Mediation, Oakland & Hayward
Most cases are handled on the same day they come up in court; some receive a brief intake and are mediated on another day. For the most part, the parties have never mediated before, and most are very pleased with the process. The parties are able to reach agreement about 55% of the time. Most people who reach an agreement in civil harassment court drop their request for a restraining order.
Success Stories
Read more about the effectiveness of mediation as an alternative to a court battle.