1983:  Founded under the auspices of Community Action Planning Council (“CAPC”) as the Community Dispute Resolution Center of Jefferson County and under Lewis County Opportunities as Lewis Mediation Service. 

• Jefferson County Director:  Carol Lively ('83-'88).  First mediation training was held in August and cases began in September.  

• Lewis County Director: Richard Pernell.  First mediation training was held in July and cases began in August.  

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1987:   Court Appointed Special Advocates (“CASA”) program was added for professional volunteer advocacy of abused and/or neglected children.  

 

1990:  The agency ended its partnership with CAPC in order to create a standalone agency. 

 

February 1991:  The Jefferson-Lewis Mediation Center, Inc. was formed and the Jefferson County office was housed in the Woolworth Building.  

 

Fall 1991:  CASA also joined the Jefferson-Lewis Mediation Center and was officially named CASA of Jefferson County. 

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1997:  Youth Court of Jefferson County was created.

 

1998:  The agency moved to Empsall Plaza.

 

2003:  It's name was changed to the Resolution Center of Jefferson and Lewis Counties, Inc. and it moved to 200 Washington Street (Key Bank Building).

 

Fall 2006:  CASA expanded to Lewis County and its name was changed to CASA of Jefferson and Lewis Counties. 

 

Summer 2011:  The Lewis County office was closed due to a massive Unified Court System funding cut. 

 

Fall 2016:  The Family Visitation Program was created underneath CASA.  The mediation program participated in the AmeriCorps program and introduced Restorative Justice to the community. 

 

2019:  The NYS Office of Victims Services child crime victim compensation application service was added to CASA. 

 

July 2020:  A formal strategic alliance with Family Counseling Service of NNY, Inc. was initiated to create a unique one-stop-shop of conflict intervention services and they moved to the top, sunny🌞 floor at 531 Washington Street, Watertown.

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September 2023:  An office at Maple Ridge Center, Lowville was opened for ADR services on Wednesdays.  Any evening and Saturdays are easily available by appointment.

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September 2024:  The St. Lawrence County CDRC was re-opened in Canton to serve the community for ADR and CASA programming.