Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs)

Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) are a statewide network of 18 nonprofit organizations that provide dialogue and dispute resolution services across all 62 New York counties. Recognizing the need for statewide coordination and advocacy, CDRCs founded the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) in 1985 as their membership organization. NYSDRA has since grown to become New York's statewide association for the entire alternative dispute resolution field, representing CDRCs, individual practitioners, organizations, and ADR professionals across the state. NYSDRA advances the field through advocacy, leadership, education, promotion of professional standards and training, and development of innovative statewide programs.


As the only statewide organization of both dispute resolution centers and practitioners in the United States, NYSDRA uniquely brings together community-based programs and individual mediators, arbitrators, facilitators, and conflict resolution professionals to strengthen ADR practice, expand access to services, and elevate professional standards across New York.


Together, CDRCs and NYSDRA help more than 50,000 New Yorkers each year navigate difficult conversations, decisions, and disputes—regardless of whether they have a case in court. Individuals, families, and communities come to CDRCs for accessible, community-based conflict resolution services in their local areas, while NYSDRA coordinates advocacy efforts, develops statewide training initiatives, and administers state and federal contract programs that expand access to ADR services across New York.


CDRCs can assist people in many types of situations including:

  • Custody, Parenting Plans, and Child Support
  • Housing Matters
  • Financial and Contractual Disputes
  • Family and Interpersonal Conflicts
  • Juvenile Justice and Restorative Practices
  • School-based Peer Mediation Programs
  • Special Education Disputes
  • Child Permanency Matters
  • Agriculture & Farming Disputes


CDRC's confidential services are an effective way to save time and money:

  • 70% of CDRC mediations result in mutual agreement
  • 88% of mediation clients surveyed would recommend CDRC services to others
  • Families avoid costly litigation and lengthy court processes
  • Communities build capacity for resolving disputes locally


Access and Affordability: Any New Yorker may use the services of a CDRC regardless of whether they have a case in court. Most CDRC services are low or no cost, ensuring that conflict resolution is accessible to all New Yorkers, including those who cannot afford private mediation or legal representation.


NYSDRA Membership: NYSDRA's diverse membership includes the 18 CDRCs, individual ADR practitioners (mediators, arbitrators, facilitators, trainers), organizational members, academic institutions, court programs, and other dispute resolution professionals. Members benefit from professional development opportunities, networking, advocacy representation, reduced-cost training, and access to resources that strengthen their practice and advance the field.


Through this collaborative model, CDRCs provide direct services in communities across the state while NYSDRA serves as the professional home for all dispute resolution practitioners, amplifying their collective voice, coordinating statewide initiatives, and ensuring that alternative dispute resolution remains accessible, high-quality, and responsive to the evolving needs of New York's diverse communities.

Find Your Local Community Dispute Resolution Center

New York State's Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) services reach all corners of the state!

Find your local center using the map below or by county.