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Child Dispute Resolution

Placer Dispute Resolution Service- Got a Dispute? - Mediate!
P.O. Box 1771 916-645-9260
Loomis, CA 95650
Placer Dispute Resolution Service

Placer Dispute Resolution Service - PDRS - is a non-profit organization committed to assisting people in resolving their disputes through mediation. We have provided mediation services to the citizens of Placer County since 1992.

The goal of mediation is to develop a settlement agreement that is practical, realistic and workable. A mediated agreement is best when it meets the needs of all the parties and endures over time. Even if a mediation agreement is not reached, participants may find a benefit in opening lines of communication.

In addition to providing mediation services for a wide range of disputes, PDRS offers training programs in collaborative negotiation and mediation.

Major funding for PDRS is provided by Placer County through a surcharge on Superior Court civil filing fees.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a way for people to work out their problems and arrive at mutually acceptable agreements with the help of trained, impartial mediators who facilitate productive communication between disputing parties. It is a voluntary settlement process which allows you to control the decisions that affect your family, business, finances, and life rather than having an outcome imposed upon you by a third party.

Mediation focuses on the future rather than on the past, to identify what will resolve the dispute now.

What kinds of issues can mediation help with?

  • Noise
  • Pets
  • Parking
  • Property Use
  • Landlord/Tenant
  • Annoyance Complaints
  • Neighbor/neighbor Disputes
  • Property Damage
  • Business Disputes
  • Roommate Problems
  • Contractor Disputes
  • Money
  • Workplace Problems
  • Organizational Conflicts
  • Family Disputes
  • Commercial Consumer
  • Government Relations
  • School/Community

How does the mediation process work?

You contact PDRS and explain the problem. We'll ask questions, and answer your questions.

With your approval, we then contact the other person and explain mediation and its benefits. Before you talk with the other party in mediation, you both talk with the case developer to help identify the issues at the root of the conflict.
If both of you agree to meet, we schedule a mutually agreeable time and location for the mediation session.

The mediators help focus on the best options for resolving the disputes. You and the other party must mutually agree on a resolution.

Final agreements may be oral or written. The agreement represents a commitment to resolve the problem.

A successful mediation can help the parties:

  • Arrive at resolution of the problem.
  • Define issues and concerns.
  • Clarify viewpoints, interests and positions.
  • Generate options and alternatives for resolving the dispute.
  • Improve communication.
  • Reduce time, cost, and stress associated with resolving disputes.

If you have a case before the courts, your written agreement can be entered into the record of the court, if you wish.

What are the benefits?

While the primary goal of mediation is to resolve differences, mediation also:

  • Costs less than litigation
  • Is quicker than litigation
  • Is less formal than litigation.
  • Is confidential avoiding public disclosure of personal problems
  • Allows you to control decisions that affect your life
  • Promotes communication & cooperation
  • Reduces conflict & helps keep relationships intact

Dispute Resolution Process

Below are five components for resolving disputes regarding school selectionand enrollment for homeless children and youth:

  1. If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the child/youth must be immediately enrolled in the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute [PL 107-110, Section 722(g)(3)(E)(iv)]. Enrollment is defined as "attending classes and participating fully in school activities."
  2. The school must refer the student, parent, or guardian to the LEA's homeless liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible. The homeless liaison must ensure that the dispute resolution process is also followed for unaccompanied youth.
  3. A written explanation of the school's decision regarding school selection or enrollment must be provided if a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth disputes such a school selection or enrollment decision, including the right to appeal [PL 107-110, §722(g)(3)(E)(ii)]. The written explanation shall be complete, as brief as possible, simply stated, and provided in a language that the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth can understand.
  4. If the dispute remains unresolved at the district level or is appealed, then the district homeless liaison shall forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the homeless liaison at the county office of education (COE). The COE's homeless liaison will review these materials and determine the school selection or enrollment decision within five (5) working days of receipt of the materials. The COE homeless liaison will notify the LEA and parent of the decision. Contact information for COE's homeless liaisons can be found at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/cy/.
  5. If the dispute remains unresolved or is appealed, the COE homeless liaison shall forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the State Homeless Coordinator. Upon the review of the LEA, COE, and parent information, the CDE will notify the parent of the final school selection or enrollment decision within ten (10) working days of receipt of materials. You may reach the State Homeless Coordinator, Leanne Wheeler, by phone at (916) 319-0383 or by e-mail at lwheeler@cde.ca.gov.

School districts must enroll students experiencing homelessness immediately. If, after enrollment, it is determined that a student is not homeless as defined in the law, school districts should follow the policies that are in place to address other forms of fraud. Written notice should be given to the parent, guardian, or youth, including his or her right to appeal the decision.

Stay Safe

In the Stay Safe section of our website, you can find a number of tips and ideas to do just that. Stay safe! We believe at the Lincoln Police Department that education is a key factor in crime prevention. In this section you can find ways to keep yourself, your children, you homes, and your businesses safe.

You can also take a look at crime statistics, recent activity, and crimes that have taken place in your neighborhood. Just go to the Special Services tab on the left and you can take advantage of the tools we've provided on our site.