The Community Resolution Center is one of approximately eighteen mediation centers throughout
Michigan. These centers, established by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) in 1990, are intended to provide Michigan residents with an alternative to the courts for resolving disputes. A small filing fee from each small claims case filed in the state goes towards the funding of these community mediation centers.

The CRC was established in 1994 to provide mediation services to Genesee County. It was originally called the Community Dispute Resolution Center of Genesee County (CDRC). From 1994 - 2001 the organization existed under the umbrella of the Genesee County Community Action Agency (GCCAA), which provided office space and staffing.

In 2001 the CDRC became a stand-alone nonprofit agency and in 2005 the program expanded, taking on eight additional counties: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Midland, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Saginaw. To accommodate the expansion, the CDRC of Genesee County changed its name to the Community Resolution Center and added a satellite office in the Saginaw County courthouse.