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- About & Mission
About & Mission
On February 15, 1984 the Bexar County Commissioners Court established the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center (BCDRC) with the advice and support of the San Antonio Bar Association. The Founding by-laws call for an Advisory Board nominated by the San Antonio Bar Association, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office and the County Commissioners. Final Board appointments are made by the Bexar County Commissioners. The BCDRC's primary focus is to provide mediation services to residents, businesses, and organizations of Bexar County at no charge. The BCDRC provides referrals to other organizations, agencies, and departments which may provide ancillary services.
Funding
The Dispute Resolution Center is funded by monies generated from filing fees assessed on civil court cases designated for the dispute resolution fund.
Caseload
Each year the BCDRC serves over 6,000 clients and schedules over 2,400 cases for mediation. Furthermore, the BCDRC maintains an 82% settlement rate for all cases mediated.
Our Mission
The Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center is committed to providing timely, effective and caring services to each person in need of our assistance.
- We will treat our clients with dignity and respect, striving to earn their trust and maintain our credibility.
- We will provide our clients with a forum in which to resolve their conflicts and disputes in a peaceful and expedient manner.
- We will take advantage of every opportunity to educate the citizens of Bexar County about our services by promoting and encouraging the use of mediation as a non-violent means of resolving conflicts.
- We will recognize the immense contributions volunteer mediators make to our success and our ability to provide this valuable community service.
- We will strive to maintain the leading edge in mediation in the state of Texas and to sustain the BCDRC as a model to be emulated statewide.
Goals
The Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center is committed to providing timely, effective and caring services to each person in need of our assistance.
- We will treat our clients with dignity and respect, striving to earn their trust and maintain our credibility.
- We will provide our clients with a forum in which to resolve their conflicts and disputes in a peaceful and expedient manner.
- We will take advantage of every opportunity to educate the citizens of Bexar County about our services by promoting and encouraging the use of mediation as a non-violent means of resolving conflicts.
- We will recognize the immense contributions volunteer mediators make to our success and our ability to provide this valuable community service.
- We will strive to maintain the leading edge in mediation in the state of Texas and to sustain the BCDRC as a model to be emulated statewide.
View From the Dolorosa St. Entrance
Types of Services We Offer
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Community Outreach:
Need a speaker for your next meeting? We can send a team member to make a presentation about our services or set up a display at a school, resource fair, church wellness event, or neighborhood meeting.
Visit Community Outreach to learn more. -
AIM Peer Mediation Program:
The AIM Program trains school administrators and students in conflict resolution. Peer Mediators help reduce the number of school disciplinary incidents, and create a more positive school environment.
Visit the AIM Program to learn more. -
Mediation:
The BCDRC's mediation programs take a common-sense approach to resolve conflicts and settle disputes. We offer several types of mediation in which both parties reach a mutually acceptable understanding.
Visit Mediation to learn more.
Achievements
98% of clients surveyed are either satisfied or very satisfied with the BCDRC staff.
74% of clients surveyed indicated mediation kept them from going to court.
Settling cases through mediation referred by local courts saves the county over $2,000,000 per year.
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About Our Mediators
We have over 150 volunteers who conduct intake interviews, make presentations promoting our services, or mediate.
20% of the volunteers are bi-lingual (English/Spanish).
Over 40% of the mediators are attorneys.
72% of the volunteers have post graduate degrees.
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Physical Address
300 Dolorosa
Suite 1.102
San Antonio, TX 78205-3009
Phone: 210-335-2128Fax: 210-335-2941
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m - 5 p.m.
After 5 p.m. Instructions:
For access into the BCDRC after 5 p.m., please use the Dolorosa St. entrance.