COMMUNITY MEDIATION CENTER 22 Lawrence Avenue Smithtown, NY 11787 (631) 265-0490

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Purpose: The Community Mediation Center (CMC) provides alternative dispute resolution services to residents of Suffolk County. CMC has been in operation since 1977. Starting as a center to resolve community complaints, the program has expanded to assist over 3,000 clients annually.

Description: CMC uses trained mediators and arbitrators to handle a wide range of disputes, with the goal of reaching legally-binding agreements. Disputes handled include parent/child conflicts, neighborhood disputes referred by the District Attorney's Office and Police, school related problems between youth, inter-racial conflicts, minor criminal offenses, cases referred by village courts and small claims matters in several District Courts in Suffolk County. We provide special education and early intervention mediation to resolve issues that parents of children with special needs have with their school districts. We also provide mediation for consumers of supported housing and community residences, and farmers and homeowners receiving loans through the United States Department of Agriculture Program. In addition, Lemon Law Arbitration is provided for new and used car owners as referred by the NYS Attorney General's Office.
The Community Mediation Center also provides conflict resolution skills training for students throughout Suffolk County ranging from elementary to high school level.

Funding:The program receives funding from the NYS Unified Court System, NYS Department of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau, IOLA Fund, NYS Education Department, NYS Department of Health, the NYS Attorney General's Office, NYS Commission on Quality Care and the United States Department of Agriculture.