Basic Mediation Training

We're looking for a few good people to train. . .

The Community Mediation Centers of St. Mary's and Calvert Counties are offering a
Basic Mediation Training in September!

INTRODUCTION TO 40-HOUR BASIC MEDIATION TRAINING 2010

Welcome

You are invited to apply to be a member of the 2010 Basic Mediation Training class offered by the Community Mediation Centers [CMC's] of Calvert and St. Mary's Counties. 

As you consider this opportunity we would like to introduce ourselves to you so that you can understand the personal and professional benefits of your coming association with our mediation centers as well as your responsibilities as a volunteer once you have completed the training.

Overview

We know from experience that a combination of two key elements make for a successful relationship with our mediation centers:

 A commitment to our approach to understanding and transforming conflict

A commitment of time and energy as a volunteer

1.   We recognize that it is through the basic training and continued skills building that you will learn about what we call the "transformative framework' for envisioning conflict and defining our role as mediators. For now, however, you might wish to consider how comfortable you might be with the following general precepts and practices that guide our mediators:

Be comfortable in the presence of others' conflict

Trust that they [not you] have the capacity to know what will be in their best interest

Recognize that it is their choice whether or not to resolve their conflict

            Accept your role as one in support their dialogue and efforts to resolve their differences.

2.  Each CMC is funded through a modest State grant that covers at most one staff member, office space and supplies, and educational materials. Almost all of our important tasks related to conflict management are carried out by volunteers:

Workshops for youths, adults, businesses

Presentations and informational tables at community events

Design, publication and distribution of newsletters, and other promotional materials

Communicating by mail with potential participants in mediations

Engaging by telephone or in person with persons considering mediation

Mediating disputes referred by other organizations and from the community at large

Improving our mediation skills through monthly skills-building sessions and other training

Maintaining accurate and timely records for all the above

So, that means we will be relying on you as a volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours per calendar quarter for 8 consecutive quarters if you choose to participate in this basic mediation class.

Class Schedule 2010

The basic mediation training consists of three parts:

An Orientation session to introduce you to our community mediation centers and provide an overview of our understanding of conflict and thus the framework within which we work as mediators.

 

Classroom sessions that expand on this framework and teach the skills that  our mediators use to support participants' conflict conversations

 

Observations of real life mediations and co-mediation with experienced mediators.

The Orientation and Classroom sessions will be held at the Wyle Aerospace Conference Center 22309 Exploration Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Saturday August 7th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OR Friday August 13th, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Classroom Sessions

Friday September 17th, 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday September 18th, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday September 19th, 8:30a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Friday September 24th, 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday September 25th, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday September 26th, 8:30a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Monday October 18th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Certification

Following completion of the orientation and classroom portions of the training, you will observe two mediation sessions and then co-mediate twice with experienced practitioners.  You will then receive a certificate recognizing completion of basic mediation training in the transformative framework.

Our Contract with You

This training costs our CMC's $375.00 per student based on a class of 20.   We ask you to pay $75.00 of this amount in order to cover the Training Manual, Mediator's Handbook, a copy of Promise of Mediation, and food [snacks and all meals].   If this cost creates a hardship, please speak to us about a scholarship.

The training itself is offered to you at no cost in the expectation that you will honor a commitment to volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours per calendar quarter in each of the following two years. 

The cost for a comparable 40-hour basic mediation training would be over $1,200 at an academic institution or for-profit business.  Calvert and St. Mary's CMC's are 501(c)(3) non-profit public charities.