The Community of

A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 0 0 6

talk works.

The Community of CDRCWho are the people who come to CDRC to talk things out andwork things out? And who are the people that make it happen? CDRC not only serves our communities, it is a community of its own. The CDRCcommunity includes many people.

We’re the adults and young people who use CDRC to respond constructively toconflict, or to learn the skills involved in doing this on their own.

We’re the mediators from all walks of life who volunteer to help.

We’re members of the Board of Directors who hail from each of our counties.

We’re the donors whose gifts make a difference.

We’re the staff who are committed to keeping it all running smoothly.

This report not only describes CDRC’s accomplishments in 2006 but also the people whobenefited and the people who helped make those accomplishments happen.

MLK Peacemaker Award RecipientIn Tompkins County, we start each year by honoring oneindividual or group whose work furthers theideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Kathy Luz Herrera received theMLK Peacemaker Award at thecommunity breakfast held onJanuary 13. Kathy is a mem-ber of the InternationalBrotherhood of ElectricalWorkers Local Union#241 and serves as aTompkins CountyLegislator. She is anadvocate for the poorand underemployed, aswell as working-classwomen, women of color,and lesbian, gay, and trans-gender individuals. Kathy’s life

and work embody Dr. King’s statement that “injustice any-where is a threat to justice everywhere.”

CDRC Trains Students in Elmira CitySchool District

A contract with the Elmira City School Districtprovided the opportunity to offer 160 person

hours of training to students at Elmira FreeAcademy, Southside High School andBroadway Middle School. By participat-ing in Teen Talk and Kid Talk work-shops, these students learned about howconflict affects them while buildingskills for responding in ways that solvedproblems rather than causing harm.

Triangle Fund Supports CDRCIn August of 2006, CDRC received a grant

from the Triangle Fund to support Kid Talkand Teen Talk workshops. The grant not only

2006 HIGHLIGHTS

4

Kathy Luz Herrera

funded the workshops themselves, it supported the addition-al time CDRC staff need to work with school personnel toincorporate the workshops into their curriculum. Last fall,the grant supported 88 person hours of Kid Talk workshopsfor students at Watkins Glen Elementary School. Facultyand staff will be learning to present the workshops on theirown during the 07-08 school year.

Wise Talk Program BeginsElders get caught in the same kinds of conflicts as everyoneelse. And they also face a special set of potentially difficultdecisions. Whether or not their conflicts are like otherpeople’s, mediation helps elders talk through theirdifferences and make better decisions. CDRC began WiseTalk in the summer of 2006 to ensure that this growingsector of our population is able to make the best use ofmediation. During 2006, people sought CDRC’s assistancewith 16 different situations directly involving or aboutelders, serving a total of 71 people. In 70% of these cases,people involved reached agreement on next steps. Started in

Tompkins County, the agency plans to expand eldermediation to Chemung and Schuyler Counties within thenext few years.

Talk Works Players Act OutTalk Works Players began as a way to provide an interactiveand humorous way to help people understand mediation.Over 500 individuals watched skits that demonstrate howconflict makes communication difficult and how having amediator in the middle helps people get clearer and consid-er other perspectives. Once that happens, resolution oftenfollows. During 2006, Talk Works Players presented to 350senior citizens at community lunch sites and educated 20potential referral sources about how mediation can help.

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work things out

MOST OF THE PEOPLE CONTACTING CDRC WERE SEPA-RATED OR DIVORCED PARENTS OR OTHER CAREGIVERSwho sought assistance in deciding how best to share responsibili-ty for their children. The 608 parenting plan cases handled in2006 made up 65% of the agency’s caseload. In the 301 caseswhere all parties agreed to meet, most reached agreement.

Some people contact CDRC for assistance in filing their parentingplan with Family Court. In those situations, staff talk with each

Parenting PlansTypes of Situations

76% 3%

21%

Custody & Parenting

Time

Parenting Time Only

Other

MediationOutcomes

89%

11%

Reached Agreement

Mediated –

No Agreement

Parenting PlansProcess

0

50

100

150

200

182

119

concilia-tions

mediations

6

About half the time, one of the individuals involvedchose not to mediate. In those 477 situations, staffhelped people consider their options and next stepsand often referred them to other services or to thecourts.

When people were willing to talk, 89% of the timethey got clearer about what was going on and wereable to work things out.

JUST OVER 3,000 PEOPLE TURNED TO CDRC FOR ASSISTANCE WITH 930 SITUATIONS

person involved, write up the agreement and related paperwork, and file the agreement forreview by a judge. Through these conciliations, staff helped 401 people create legally bindingparenting plans without needing to appear in court.

Over 20% of Parenting Plan cases involved extended family members: grandparents, siblings,and others who were providing caregiving.

Well over half of these 1,384 adults were referred by Family Court, primarily by the CDRC staffwho work in each county’s Family Court.

Another 30 cases involved parents whose children had been removed because of findings ofchild abuse or neglect. They met with caseworkers, attorneys, lawguardians, foster parents, and other caregivers to help their chil-dren return home or move into other permanent placements asquickly as possible. Most were referred by the court. Each medi-ation held involved at least five people who were generally able totalk things out.

Parenting Plans –Referrals

48%

15%

12%

CDRC Staff at Family Court

Family Court Staff

Former Clients

Word of Mouth

Attorneys

Other Agencies

15%

5%5%

Parenting Plans – Permanency

26%

74%

Reached Agreement

Mediated – NoAgreement

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comm

itted, caring staff

FINALLY, IN 14 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS,CDRC’S INTERFACE PROGRAM WORKEDWITH GROUPS TO FACILITATE INTERAC-TIONS among a total of 294 individuals. Thesesituations included a five-member work team thattalked through rough spots in their work process; adozen volunteers who developed an organizationalplan which they then presented to over 30 interest-ed citizens and almost 100 members of the publicwere given the chance to weigh in on an issue ofconcern.

Interface ProgramTypes of Cases

46%15%

23%

16%

Government

Not-For-Profits

Grassroots organizations

Educational Institutions

Interface ProgramClients

53%

28%

19%

Educational Institutions

Not-For-Profits

Community Groups

8

CDRC HELPED WITH ANOTHER282 SITUATIONS THAT WERE NOTABOUT PARENTING. These 282cases varied widely, as did the rela-tionships between those involved.

The people involved in thesesituations got to CDRC in manydifferent ways.

0 20 40 60 80 100

Other CasesHow Cases Get to CDRC

Municipal Courts

Media & Word of Mouth

Schools, DSS, Public Agencies

Private Agencies

Probation & Attorneys

Other

Other CasesRelationships of Those WhoSeek Help

34%

24%

8%

Family Members

Customer - Business

Landlord - Tenant

Professional/Work

Strangers

Friends

Neighbors & Group Members

15%

9%

6%4%

Other CasesSituations that BringPeople to CDRC

43%

27%

11%

Interpersonal

Housing

Youth Behavior

Property & Contract

Other

14%

5%

about the people we serve

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Income LevelEducation Level

0 300 600 900 1200 1500

Under School Age

Students

No High School

High School

College

451

483

267

1,302

884

Ages

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

12-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61+ 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Und

er 9

k

Ove

r 45k

35k-

45k

9k-1

6k

16k-

25k

25k-

35k

Ethnicity

87%

1%6%

2%4%

White

Black

Hispanic

Asian

Bi-Racial

Employment

51%

11%

14% 2%6%

16%

Employed

Student

Family Member Employed

Unemployed

Social Security/Retired

Public Assistance

Gender

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Female Male

1,8621,617

Youth – Workshop Venues

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Schools

Youth Groups

Camps

Youth – Skills Training

20%38%

28%

Conflict on the Job

Teen Talk

Kid Talk

Peer Mediation

Teen Mediation

11%

3%

10

YouthGender

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Females 305

Males 94

YouthAge

39%

7%

54%

Under 10

10 to 15

16 to 20

CDRC completed its first conflict education curriculum forelementary school aged children during 2006. Staff ofNewfield Elementary School worked collaboratively withCDRC staff to develop Kid Talk, a series of units that includeage appropriate activities to help children explore conflict,consider the emotions that accompany it and learn the skillsto calm down and talk out their differences.

Kid Talk was adapted from Teen Talk, which was used wide-

ly in training pre-teens and teens in all of our counties.Other teens learned to mediate for CDRC, for PeerMediation programs in their schools, or to increase theirconflict management skills on the job.

Young people were trained in schools, at camps, and in exist-ing youth groups at community centers and other not forprofits.

OVER 600 ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE LEARNED THE SKILLS INVOLVED IN TALKING THINGS OUT

TrainingTraining Hosts

35%

50%

15%

Educational Institutions

Not-For-Profits

Community Groups

Training – Adults Trained

0 30 60 90 120 150

Educational Institutions

Not-For-Profits

Community Groups

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talk thingsout

More girls were trained than boys, and over half ofthose trained were 16 or older.

Youth weren’t the only audience for CDRC’s conflict educa-tion in 2006. Through its Interface Program, 295 adultslearned skills that helped them get their jobs done and createpositive relationships. Staff at local colleges, employees ofschool districts, counselors who work with the unemployed

and those providing advocacy participated in training spon-sored by CDRC.

In addition, CDRC provided 88 one-hour classes atTompkins County’s Day Reporting Center, teaching skillsand helping those men and women consider how best torespond to the conflicts in their lives.

DONORS SUPPORT CDRC’S MISSION In 2006, 144 donors provided gifts to CDRC. Somedonated after participating in mediation. Othersgave because they understand the importance offostering constructive responses to conflict. CDRCappreciates their generous contributions, whichprovided discretionary income that helped to fill inthe gaps left after allocated money was disbursed.

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Yvonne AndesTammy BakerDarlene BarelaSharron BeckworthLaura BrancaLonnie BrewerJudy BurrillDorothy CaldwellJessica ClarksonKaren ComstockKristen Cook*Larry DenisonEileen DriscollAnn DyckmanKirby EdmondsLinda FinlayJohn ForesterCourtney Gehl*Raymond Gozzi, Jr.Amelia HabichtSatomi Hill

Ruth HopkinsWarren InghamSteve JacobsenMelody JohnsonSylvester JohnsonDavid KayJurgen KerberTom KlingmanKimberly KopkoIrene Koplinka-

Loehr*Martha LasleyIlma LevineCynthia LionTim LogueHarriet LondonAnn MartinRobin MassonVirginia MetcalfFrancine MontemurroSuzanne Motheral

Jennifer O’HaraCarl ParmeleeSandra RhodesAngelina Rios*Adrienne RussellScott SearsDavid StotzAmanda Thorpe*Camille TischlerNancy VanMaarseveenWendy VonhofPeggy WalbridgeMichael WaldIrene WeiserJoe WheelerBrian WilliamsIska ZiverJohanna Zussman-

Dobbins*

*Teen Mediators

MEDIATORS HELPED PEOPLE TALK IT OUTMediators give the gift of time. What qualifies mediators for thiswork? A willingness to learn to listen deeply, to not take sides,and to support people in making the best decisions they can asthey balance the needs, perspectives, and constraints of particularsituations. They spent 916 hours helping people talk. We're grate-ful for their energy and commitment.

CDRC VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS 2006

Anonymous (4)Ed AbelsonMolly & Barry AdamsTheresa AltMark & Judith AshtonMichael BartoneLinda & Barney BeinsRobert Belle & Carolyn

BelleabbottRose BetheRabbi Miriam BiatchAntonie and Shelley

BlacklerMitchel Bobrow & Kathy

RodgersJohn & Anita BrennerMarie BrewerJoel & Susan BrockRenée BrutvanDwight Carroll

Donn CarrollRegis CarverEvelyn CaseGeorge ConnemanElizabeth CorriganJudith CrispellCatherine CrymesMarion DaGrossa &

Nancy GabrielLarry DenisonBarbara DeWall &

Deborah JonesAnne & John DexterDavid & Neema DriskellDoug DyllaBetsy East & Elizabeth

BixlerMarilyn EwingDonald FarleyLinda & Dan Finlay

Helen FisherJohn ForesterMariette

GeldenhuysRaymond Gozzi, Jr.Stephen HandHands Four

Dancers of Ithaca,Jennifer Cook

Janet HenryLeni Hochman &

Tim JosephJanet HoffSteve HoffmanNina HoskinsPeter HoytIthaca Monthly

Meeting of theReligious Societyof Friends

Stephen andMarion Jacobsen

André & JeanJagendorf

Sylvester JohnsonAlfred & Mary

KahnMary M. KelseyRosalind KenworthyDooley KieferCarl J. & Suzanne

KilgoreAndrew Kingsbury

Lynn LeopoldNicole LibrandiCynthia & Len LionHarriet & Howard

LondonLynda & Steven

LoPrestiNancy LoughlinJanet LoweMarty & Barbara

LusterAnn & Peter MartinRobin Abrahamson

MassonCarole McCarthyEllen McCollister &

Bob FrankChristine MeckeAlex MinerCarolyn MoffettLee MoonEleanor MunsonDavid Neal and

GailanneMackenzie

Northside Liquor &Wine, Inc.

John NovarrMary OppermanCathy & Ken

PaddockThea ParkerKim Parr

Taylor PeckSandra PollackCatherine Porter &

Philip LewisAnne PoselFrank ProtoBarbara & David

RegenspanDavid RiceCheryl & John RigasVirginia RinkerMartha & Steve

RobertsonRichard RossignolLaurie RubinElizabeth SalonHelen SaundersTed Schiele & Chris

GriffinScott Sears & Paula

HorriganTom SeeleyM. John ShermanKevin ShreveKaren & Michael

ShulerPaula Peter SidleMike & Sandra

SimkinJean Lee SimsJoyce Sirlin-RandTemple Beth El,

Rabbi Scott Glass

Melissa Thomas-Hunt

Camille Tischler &William Kellner

Susan TitusTompkins

InsuranceAgencies, Inc., W.David Banfield

Gregg & SusanTravis

Jeff True and SusanSchattschneider

Lynn TurnquistUnited Methodist

Women, GraceSnyder

Peggy WalbridgeCharles & Jane

WalcottSylvia & Leonard

WeinsteinWENY, Scott

IddingsJoseph WheelerHans WienBrian WilliamsKenneth WilsonPatricia WoodworthMary Jo Yunis

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In Honor of Martha Robertson, gift of Robert AronsonIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Karen Comstock

& Vicki GayleIn Honor of Suzanne Motheral and her work with

Interface, gift of Judy & Jerry DietzIn Honor of Betsy East and Elizabeth Bixler, gift of

Vicky EastIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Helen Gibson

& Barbara WarlandIn Honor of Betsy East, gift of Carl F. & Jean L. GortzigIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Pat HolmesIn Memory of Rue Deutsch, gift of Barbara D. LynchIn Honor of Judy Saul, gift of Janice & Jan NigroIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Susan RobinsonIn Honor of Jerry and Judy Dietz, gift of Ruth SchapiroIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Donna ScottIn Recognition of Mediator Larry Denison, gift of

John SwanIn Memory of Candace Widmer, gift of Martha TaylorIn Memory of Lois King, gift of Amy TruemanIn Memory of Candace Widmer, Matt WidmerIn Honor of Milton Zussman, gift of Gail Zussman &

John Dobbins

MEMORIAL GIFTS

INCOME

Contributions, Grants, & Gifts ..................................21,973

NY State Unified Court System ...............................430,739

Interface Income.........................................................22,262

United Way*............................................................... 51,577

Tompkins County.......................................................41,143

County Youth Bureaus**............................................25,500

Mediation Case Fees ...................................................23,115

Youth Training Income ..............................................12,370

IOLA Fund....................................................................5,500

Conflict Education at Day Reporting..........................3,780

Other Income................................................................3,764

* Chemung, Schuyler, & Tompkins Counties

** Chemung & Schuyler Counties

EXPENSES

Interpersonal Services ..............................................355,032

Youth & Family Services...........................................122,647

Interface Services ........................................................51,641

Management & General .............................................77,462

Development...............................................................38,730

Financial Information

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBetsy East, PresidentDavid Driskell, Vice PresidentKate Bartholomew, SecretaryLeni Hochman, Treasurer

Michael Bartone**Karen BrownRuth Hopkins*Harriet LondonNancy LoughlinAnn Martin**Peggy McKee*John McLaughlin*

Christine MeckeDoug Melens*Max Neal*Martha Robertson*Paula Sidle**Karen Snyder*Melissa Thomas-Hunt**Constance Thompson*Joseph WheelerBrian Willliams*

*New in 2007**Through 2006

CDRC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS GUIDES THE AGENCYCDRC’s Board is drawn from each of the counties it serves. Board members contribute their knowledge ofthe community, their professional experience and their commitment to our mission. They provide a criti-cal link between our communities and the agency and help staff keep the “big picture” in mind.

CURRENT STAFFAnnette FinneyKathy GehlMelissa HollisterRebecca KochLori KofoidNora RipleyJudith A. SaulAndrea ShelfordJeff ShepardsonPaula SmetankaPatricia SmithClariluz TapiaGina Tinker-WilliamsWendy Vonhof

Tompkins Office120 W. State St.Ithaca, NY 14850

Return Service Requested

Serving Chemung, Schuyler and Tompkins Counties

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Ithaca, NY 14850Permit #87

CONTACT USIn Chemung County 734-9087In Schuyler County 535-7637In Tompkins County 273-9347

www.cdrc.org