Celebrating 24 years of Conflict Resolution Services in the Linn and Benton Counties area.

In 1985 the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program(VORP) received its first case. We received the majority of ourreferrals from the Linn County Juvenile Department and the Court.

In1993, in response to community requests, VORP expanded its services to include community mediation, parent/adolescent and family mediation,workplace mediation, and training and consultation for local schoolpeer mediation programs.

In July, 1993 our name changed to VORP Mediation Services of Linn County. In 1998 we beganproviding small claims mediation to the Linn County Circuit Court. Itis estimated for every half day we provide mediation services we areeliminating a full day's docket for one judge.

Due to the greater community role we were playing, we began using the nameMediation Services of Linn County in 2000. We began providing morecommunity trainings in conflict management and training more school age children in problem-solving and peer mediation.

In December of 2000 our agency moved from its home of 15 years, a Sunday School room in the United Presbyterian Church, to “new-to-us” offices in the Two Rivers  Market in downtown Albany.

2003 saw yet another name change for the agency when we began providing services to Benton County. Linn-Benton Mediation Services started providing alternative conflict resolution to Benton County residents in May of that year and small claims mediation for the Circuit Court in December.

In 2004 we saw asignificant increase in requests our training services which now accounts for approximately 1/3 of the work we do.

In 2005 the Parent Access Visitation Program was initiated in partnership with the Department of Justice and Department of Human Services.

In 2008 the Department of Justice awards funding to Linn Benton Mediation Services and a Diversity Outreach Bilingual Mediation Program is created.

As you can see, from humble and focused beginnings we have growninto an agency that is highly valued and serves a broad spectrum ofconflict resolution and management needs in our community. We couldn’tdo it without your support and commitment to Linn-Benton MediationServices. Thank you and you have our commitment to continue providingquality services and training to the residents and businesses of Linnand Benton Counties.