Promoting collaborative and equity-informed conflict resolution.
Abbey Bowman headed up a ten-week Pilot Resolution Services Skill Development Program at Clackamas Dispute Resolution Services (CDRS) at the end of 2019.
Following The Mediator’s Handbook, the group of 12 flexed their mediation muscles and practiced role plays, flipping, getting curious (not furious), process development and more.
Mediators came from all over the Portland Metro area to join in this lively gathering and by all reports, it was blast.
Increased fees for court-connected settlement conferences take effect October 1, 2019. The slight fee increase for this alternative dispute resolution service is part of the new Circuit Court Fee Schedule containing multiple fee changes. These changes are a result of House Bill 3447.
The new fee for a domestic relations settlement conference now sits at $111 per party for settlement conferences before a judge when the proceeding is subject to a fee under ORS 21.155. The fee was previously $105 per party, based on the Circuit Court fee schedule, effective January 1, 2018. Prior to 2018, the fee for domestic relations settlement conferences was $100 per party.
For other settlement conferences before a judge when the proceeding is a civil proceeding not subject to a filing fee under ORS 21.155, the fee is now increased to $223 for each party. This settlement conference fee is an increase from the previous $210, which took effect January 1, 2018, and the previous $200, which was effective January 1, ORS 21.215 governs the state’s court-connected settlement conference fees.
The current Circuit Court Fee Schedule is available on the OJD website at https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Pages/fees.aspx. Remember that the cost of court fees, settlement conferences, mediation services, and attorney fees, are all issues that can be negotiated in nearly all alternative dispute resolution processes. For questions about court fee waivers or deferral procedures, see your local circuit court’s website or contact the circuit court.
OMA awarded 11 scholarships for community dispute resolution center (CDRC) volunteer mediators for the 2019 OMA Conference. Volunteering with a CDRC is a wonderful opportunity for new mediators to gain experience, make connections in the mediator world, gain valuable mentoring opportunities and even attend the fall conference at a discounted rate. Even experienced mediators often find volunteering with CDRCs very helpful. They stay connected to their community, give back by mediating community and neighborhood issues and take advantage of the CDRCs continuing education opportunities. There are 16 CDRCs in Oregon, reach out to your local center and explore what opportunities they may have for you! https://law.uoregon.edu/explore/ADR-local-centers
Location: McMenamins Broadway Pub 1504 NE Broadway, Portland
Description: Join fellow mediators for networking and discussion. This month’s topic: Certification. Thursday, January 9⋅4:00 – 6:00pm
Location: 250 SE 10th Ave. Hillsboro 97123
Description: Basic Mediation Training at the Hillsboro Mediation program provides a highly interactive training to become a mediator and to develop better communication skills in conflict situations. Learn to use mediation skills to help resolve conflicts in workplace, court, business or community-related disputes.
Tuition: $495
Registration: Email Tsipora.Dimant@gmail.com
Location: 1001 Molalla Avenue, Suite 208 Oregon City, OR 97045
Description: Come and learn basic mediation skills for family law cases. Instruction includes practical tools and skills for making the transition to mediation services a reality, including marketing strategies, developing forms, and creating efficient systems. Please see attached flyer for more information.
Tuition: $1,200
Registration: Email team@laidlawandlaidlaw.com and 503-305-6894
Location: Clackamas Community College Clairmont Hall 19600 Molalla Avenue Oregon City, OR 97045
Description: Basic Mediation Training – Conflict Management and Mediation Training Jan. 29-30, Feb. 4-6 Offered by Clackamas Country Resolution Services Learn the process of conflict management and the skills of mediation through role play exercises with professional mediator coaches. $1250 Two Courses together (Conflict Management and then Mediation Training) teach the skills for interest-based mediation.
Conflict Management Training $480 Scholarship policy and application available at: http://bit.ly/2oky7IE
Registration: at http://bit.ly/2oRhRjm or call 503 655-8849; or rs@clackamas.us
Location: Juvenile Justice Complex 1401 NE 68th Ave, Portland, OR 97213, USA
Presented by: Alison Taylor and Multnomah County Family Court Services
Description: This is a 5 Day, 40 Hour Training for individuals interested in practicing as court-connected domestic relations mediators. Must have completed at least 30 hours of Basic Mediation Training or substantially similar education or training prior.
Tuition: Court Cost $1,000 (limited scholarship assistance available)
Registration: Deadline February 15, 2020, to register please contact Laura Bisbee at Multnomah County Family Court Services laura.bisbee@multco.us or 503 988 3189
Location: Gresham City Hall1333 NW Eastman Pkwy, Gresham, OR 97030, USA
Description: Learn Conflict Resolution Skills to Effectively Manage Conflict The 16-hour training includes skill development in communication, listening and conflict resolution. Experienced instructors offer theory and techniques in an interactive learning environment. You will learn skills to navigate interpersonal conflict and gain valuable tools that can be applied in all facets of life – from the workplace to the home and community. If you are interested in becoming a trained mediator, you can continue this training on Tuesday/Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturdays for an additional 34-hours of interactive hands-on skill training.
Tuition: $495
Registration: Applications Due: Feb. 21st by end of business To Apply: Email mediate@GreshamOregon.gov or call 503-618-3247. Applicants will be chosen based on interest, ability and willingness to learn – no prior experience is needed.
This is the final installment of The Self-Care Series. Our goal for this year-long series was to help sustain you in your work and life by highlighting natural, holistic, healthy habits, and science-backed techniques for maintaining habits long-term. Our last article in the series is a recap of all the tips and ideas we’ve shared with you this year.
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash
Successful mediators are adept at maintaining focus and energy in high-pressure situations and have the ability to recover from stress, challenges, and setbacks. In other words, mediators need to be resilient. One of the best strategies for building and maintaining your resilience is to establish healthy self-care habits that address your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being.
Simple habit changes can make a big impact on the energy and passion you feel for your work. But, long-term habit change can be challenging to maintain. Relying on motivation and willpower is the wrong strategy. Find out how to be successful with your habits – even when you have LOW motivation to do so!
A busy workday often includes a quick lunch eaten on the go and then a bigger, heavier evening meal after the day is done. This is a norm in our culture, but it’s hard on the body and mind! Experimenting with the habit of eating an Earlier, Lighter Dinner can go a long way toward improving your capacity to do your work and enjoy your life.
How you put yourself to bed and what time you turn off the lights makes a huge impact on your mood, energy, health, and longevity. Yet, our culture stigmatizes sleep, glorifying those who can push through an all-nighter and dismissing those who prioritize sleep as lazy or unmotivated. If you skimp on sleep, stay up late, have a hard time falling or staying asleep, and tend to wake up groggy and sluggish, create the habit of Early to Bed.
A great day today starts … yesterday. How you spend your evenings has everything to do with how you feel when you wake up in the morning. That’s why the habits of eating dinner early and light and going to bed early are so important. They set you up to sleep well and wake up energized. Now you can use your early morning energy to set your intention and practice other healthy habits that keep you feeling great all day long.
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from life’s difficulties. Resilience enables you to have a clear mind and calm response, even to difficult, stressful, or tragic events. With resilience, you can do work that is fun and meaningful, and makes a contribution to the world.
One very simple habit that will increase your resilience is the practice of sitting in silence.
One of the most important strategies for successfully changing your habits is to enlist the support of others. You can enlist the support of co-workers, friends, coaches, and teachers who will help you reach your goals by providing accountability and encouragement.
Holiday time offers an extra-rich load to our senses of taste, touch, scent, sight, and sound. It can take us to the edge of overstimulation (and beyond). Overdoing it can lead to all kinds of trouble, from the expected fatigue and seemingly inevitable sinus infection, to other kinds of dis-ease in your mind and spirit. Ease holiday stress by trying a practices that nourish and care for your precious five senses.
Relationship challenges are often intensified during the holidays. Whether the friction sparks a big blow up or it smolders under the surface, relationship stress can put a damper on the season and take a toll on your well-being. I sat down with Lael Petersen, Life Coach and Licensed Clinical Social Worker to get some tips on how to navigate relationship challenges.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
The Self-Care Series has been great fun to write, and I hope you’ve found some helpful tips and ideas for making simple, small changes to your daily routines. With a new year just around the corner, now is a great time to reflect on what’s working well in your life (and keep doing it!) and to notice aspects of your life and well-being that are not what you would like them to be.
If you’re ready to make some changes in your habits, go back to our first installment of The Self-Care Series, and use it as a guide to making a Self-Care Resolution for the coming year. All the best to you in 2020 and beyond!
The Self-Care Series is authored by Kirstin Pinit. Kirstin teaches the art of self-care through creative, engaging, and practical habit-change programs. She is a certified coach and yoga teacher and consults with cities, communities, companies, and groups on behavior-change programs and strategies. Learn more about her work at www.kirstinpinit.com.