irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $144KTHE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE PROGRAM OFFERS SERVICES BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PLATFORM. MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ARE WITH YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR SCHOOLS. THE INITIATIVE OFFERS CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRAINING SERVICES TO YOUTH, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
- #2 $88KOTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF DIVORCE MEDIATION, FAMILY MEDIATION, AND OTHER DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES WHICH ARE ALL FACILITATED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. FAMILY AND DIVORCE MEDIATION IS OFFERED FOR PARTIES THAT ARE SELF-REFERRED OR COURT-REFERRED. PARTIES MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR DIVORCE AND/OR VISITATION, MAY CONSULT WITH ATTORNEYS DURING THE MEDIATION PROCESS, AND HAVE ATTORNEYS FILE THEIR SEPARATION, DIVORCE, OR VISITATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE COURT WITHOUT NEEDING TO APPEAR.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Mediation Program
Offers mediation for community, workplace, and neighbor disputes using transformative mediation principles, available in-person and virtually
Court Referral Mediation
Provides mediation services for cases referred by Dutchess County courts, supporting parties in resolving disputes outside of litigation
Family and Divorce Mediation
Facilitates mediation for custody, visitation, child support, elder care, and family conflicts, available to self-referred or court-referred parties
Restorative Justice Initiative
Provides restorative practices and conflict resolution services to schools, youth programs, community organizations, and individuals; includes community-building circles, workshops, and trauma-informed healing circles
Volunteer Mediator Training and Apprenticeship
Rigorous training and apprenticeship program for volunteers, including 30+ hours of initial training and 6–9 months of mentorship, certified under NYS Office of Court Administration standards
activities · 2 groups
What they do
-
Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 3 activities
- Delivering dispute resolution training and capacity buildingProvides training in mediation and restorative justice practices, including a 30-hour Initial Mediation Training and apprenticeship program, as well as virtual training and education for volunteers and individuals seeking personal or professional development. Training includes technical support materials such as step-by-step technology guides for mediators.
- Operating volunteer-mediated dispute resolution programsRelies on a corps of certified volunteer mediators who handle approximately 90–97% of all mediation cases. Volunteers are required to mediate at least three cases per year and are trained and supported through structured onboarding and ongoing guidance.
- Providing mediation and restorative justice servicesOffers free or sliding-scale fee mediation and restorative justice services to individuals, families, groups, schools, workplaces, and court-referred parties in Dutchess County and neighboring areas. Services include face-to-face and virtual mediation sessions where neutral mediators facilitate safe, confidential conversations to help participants express concerns, address challenges, and reach mutually acceptable solutions.
-
-
Trauma-Informed Community Resilience Initiatives 1 activity
- Conducting community dialogue and healing circlesHosts monthly virtual and in-person dialogue circles for residents of Dutchess County and neighboring counties, including lunch circles, anti-racist movement building circles, BIPOC-only healing circles, and trauma-informed circles to foster connection, reflection, and collective healing.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$396K
Contributions & grants$377K95%
Program service revenue$21K5%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$-4K
expenses
Total expenses$451K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$291K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$347K
Cash$139K
Investments$56K
Liabilities$129K
Net assets$218K
Liquid reserves5.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEANNE LAWSON | EXECUTIVE DI | 35 | $82K |
board members · 7
- AMANDA SEN VILLALBOS — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES MELITSKI — VICE-CHAIRMA
- JOSEPH DI PALO — TREASURER
- MARCEL MARTINO — RESIGNED 12.
- ROBERT HASKINS — BOARD MEMBER
- STACEY LEE — SECRETARY
- STEFFEN KRAEHMER — RESIGNED 12.
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Dutchess County Government — Funds youth-related programs and partnerships of the Mediation Center.
- Dutchess County Government — Provides court referral services in partnership with local government entities.
- Family Court Government — Receives case referrals from Family Court for custody, visitation, and child support mediation services.
- New York State Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Government — Provides funding support that enables free community mediation services.
- New York State Office of Court Administration Government — Provides certification for trainers and sets requirements for volunteer mediator training and continuing education.
- New York State Unified Court System Network — Member of the statewide network of Community Dispute Resolution Centers under the New York State court system.
- Schools Partner — Partners with schools to offer restorative justice and conflict resolution programming.
- Unified Court System Government — Provides funding and enables court referral pathways for mediation services.
- Youth-Serving Organizations Partner — Collaborates with youth-serving organizations to deliver conflict resolution and training services.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Contextual and Relational Tailoring of Servicesmethodology: contextual_tailoringBy meeting people where they are and tailoring services to individual and community contexts, we improve engagement and effectiveness because interventions are grounded in lived experience and relational dynamics.
- Restorative Justice and Practicesmethodology: restorative_justiceBy applying restorative justice and restorative practices, we resolve conflicts and repair harm because these methods prioritize mutual understanding, accountability, and healing in both proactive and responsive settings.
- Self-Determination in Conflict Resolutionmethodology: self-determination-in-mediationBy centering self-determination, we improve conflict resolution outcomes because supporting each individual’s voice and choice increases ownership, engagement, and the sustainability of agreements.
- Transformative Mediationmethodology: transformative_mediationBy using transformative mediation, we produce meaningful and lasting conflict resolution because the process empowers individuals and fosters mutual recognition, turning conflict into an opportunity for personal and relational change.