Clackamas County, OR Dispute Resolution Center
Type: Policy
Status: Ongoing
Source File: http://www.clackamas.us/cscc/mediation.htm
Description:
Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center is a county agency committed to empowering Clackamas County residents, families, communities, organizations, businesses and governments to resolve disputes effectively, peacefully and collaboratively.
We offer:
- Community Mediation Services
- Workplace Mediation, Facilitation and Training
- Mediation Training
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Information and Resources
Mediation Benefits
- Maintain control over decisions
- Reach your own agreements
- Solve problems…not symptoms
- Save time and money
- Stay out of court
- End the conflict
- Develop lasting agreements
- Improve neighborhood livability
Our Staff and Professionally Trained Volunteer Team includes four part-time professional mediators and 15 professionally trained volunteer mediators.
COMMUNITY MEDIATION SERVICES
Community mediation services are offered free of charge to residents of Clackamas County. Our mediators will talk to you about our voluntary and confidential program services for issues such as:
- Neighbor to Neighbor Disputes
- Property Line and Fence Issues
- Property Maintenance, Traffic and Parking
- Animal Control
- Family Relationship Issues other than Divorce
- Elder Care Issues
- Adult Sibling Disputes
- Separating Partners
- Landlord and Tenant Issues
- Consumer and Merchant Disputes
- Public Policy Disputes
Mediation is an informal dispute resolution process that enables individuals to address concerns and expectations in a safe, confidential environment. Mediators facilitate a productive problem-solving process that empowers parties to reach their own agreements.
Our mediation sessions are confidential, voluntary, impartial, effective and available during evening hours.
Click here for samples of Community Mediation cases.
WORKPLACE MEDIATION, FACILITATION, AND TRAINING
Conflicts in the workplace can be costly and time consuming. Up to 30% of a manager’s time is spent dealing with conflict, and the expense of replacing an employee who has quit or been terminated is estimated at between 75% and 150% of the employee’s annual salary. Unresolved conflict also has a substantial negative impact on morale and productivity.
We can help solve conflicts in the workplace regarding disputes involving co-workers, workers and supervisors, work groups or teams. Workplace issues may include:
- Discrimination/Sexual Harassment
- Discipline, Performance, and Evaluation
- Workforce Diversity Issues
- Americans with Disabilities Act
Click here for samples of Workplace Mediation.
MEDIATION TRAINING
Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center can provide training on:
- Workplace Conflict Resolution
- Collaborative Interest Based Negotiation
- Mediation Process Skills
- Communication Skills/Teambuilding
- Intercultural Communication
Click here for upcoming Training Opportunities.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center works with professionally trained volunteers who have taken a minimum of 30-hours of basic mediation training. Potential volunteers fill out an application, and are interviewed by center staff prior to acceptance into the program. Volunteers are accepted as space allows, and are asked to commit to one year of service, two to three hours per week on a regular schedule.
CCDRC is committed to providing continuing mediation experience and education to our volunteers and practicum students. Staff creates a learning environment through a mentor/apprentice process that supports the individual needs of our volunteers, provides practical training in case development and table mediation and provides continuing education throughout the year. The center also encourages and supports outreach efforts by volunteers to promote the services our program provides.
Our goal is to train proficient and confident volunteer community mediators. This process involves a one-year term of service unless otherwise agreed upon, and requires the following commitment on the part of the volunteer:
- Attend six hours of case development training.
- Observe our staff mediators.
- Practice case development and mediation activities.
- Perform case development and mediation activities on a regular basis.
- Follow office procedures.
- Work with a team of volunteers and staff.
- Contact our office if you are unable to attend.
- Provide feedback to the staff regarding your volunteer experience.