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Volunteer Opportunities In order to fulfill CCR’s mission of providing high quality mediation services at no cost to individuals in the midst of a dispute, we rely on highly skilled volunteer mediators. Right now, CCR is looking to diversify our volunteer pool and expand the number of volunteers able to mediate in our South Suburban and West Suburban mediation programs, as well as individuals who are able to mediate in Spanish or Polish. BENEFITS OF BEING A CCR VOLUNTEER MEDIATOR CCR mediators have the unique opportunity to mediate a wide variety of cases, work with diverse parties and gain an immense amount of experience facilitating communication in high conflict, high emotion disputes. We encourage our volunteers to continue to develop their mediation skills by offering a number of additional benefits, including:
Please note that parking is discounted and many programs are located near public transportation. To keep mediation services available at no cost to our clients, we are not able to reimburse travel expenses incurred by CCR Volunteer Mediators. MAINTAINING ACTIVE VOLUNTEER MEDIATOR STATUS We want our mediators to keep their high skill level when volunteering with us. To do this, we ask them to fulfill the following requirements in order to maintain their active status with CCR:
BECOMING A CCR VOLUNTEER MEDIATOR CCR Volunteer Mediators are trained, mentored and certified using a performance-based evaluation standard. Prospective volunteers must be able to demonstrate a master skill level in both the CCR Mediation Model and Court Adapted Mediation Model through simulated mediation sessions before being approved as a CCR Volunteer Mediator. Interested individuals are required to enroll in CCR’s four-month volunteer training, known as the Prospective Volunteer Mentorship Program (PVMP). THE PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (PVMP) The PVMP is designed to prepare individuals to meet CCR’s strict performance-based evaluation standard and if certified/approved, be able to provide top-quality mediation services in our many mediation programs throughout the Chicagoland area. The PVMP consists of:
Enrollment is extremely limited and based on CCR’s current needs. At this time, we are focused on diversifying our volunteer pool and increasing the number of volunteers able to mediate in our South Suburban and West Suburban mediation programs, as well as individuals who are able to mediate in Spanish or Polish. Because enrollment is extremely limited, we need to give priority to interested individuals who meet one or more of those qualifications. Regretfully, we will not be able to accept all applicants. CCR accepts applications for the PVMP two times a year: FALL and SUMMER. Before submitting an application, please make sure that you can attend all orientation and training days for your chosen PVMP session. If selected, you will need to attend all training sessions associated with your PVMP. If you cannot attend all the training dates, please choose a different session. Available Sessions: FALL 2008 (August – November): August 27, 2008: Orientation 8:30-12:30pm September 6, 7, 13, 14, 2008: Basic Mediation Skills Training, 8:30am-5:00pm October 8, 2008: Court Adapted Model Mediation, 8:30am-5:00pm SUMMER 2009 (TBA) The PVMP Curriculum The CCR PVMP consists of a ½ day orientation, 5 full days of training, and a 4-month mentorship component. The full day trainings incorporate lectures, facilitated discussions, small group exercises, and role-plays to teach the specific skills necessary to master the CCR mediation model. The mentorship component enhances the training experience and supports a prospective volunteer’s understanding of CCR’s mediation model. In addition to the scheduled training dates, prospective volunteers are asked to work with a mentor to complete a series of exercises within the 4-month time period. All prospective volunteers must complete a minimum of 10 additional exercises before they can schedule their certification mediation simulations. Prospective volunteers are not limited to these exercises, and may choose to do as many of the exercises in the curriculum as they would like during the 4-month time period. Mentors are experienced CCR volunteers and trainers who have received special training in teaching the CCR mediation model. Download the curriculum – Here Volunteer Certification The PVMP culminates in our certification process. Once the prospective volunteer has completed the Orientation Day, the four-day Mediation Skills Training, the Court Adapted Model Mediation Training and the ten additional exercises with the mentor then they can begin the certification process. The certification process entails two evaluated mediation simulations: one Court Adapted Model Mediation and one CCR Model Mediation. Each simulation will be evaluated using our performance-based evaluation criteria. Prospective volunteers must complete the PVMP process and schedule their two evaluated mediation simulations within the 4-month time period. While CCR will put its full resources behind supporting PVMP participants to become certified to mediate at CCR, the performance-based evaluation standard remains the same. So, completion of the PVMP does not guarantee approval as a CCR volunteer. Who Should Apply? CCR encourages those who are interested in empowering others to resolve their own conflicts as well as those who would like to give back to their community to apply for the PVMP.
Bilingual Mediators Needed If you are fluent in English and a second language, particularly Spanish and Polish, we would like to meet you! The Application Process If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with CCR, we encourage you to first contact our Volunteer Director, Scott Hinkle, at 312.922.6464. ext 21 or shinkle@ccrchicago.org, to discuss any questions you may have. Applications are available here in PDF Format (If you do not currently have a viewer, you will need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader). Complete the form and fax or mail it to the Center for Conflict Resolution. Individuals may be called in for an interview before being selected for the PVMP. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until enrollment is filled. Fees If enrolled in the PVMP, prospective volunteers will be asked to pay a one-time administrative fee of $150 to cover the cost of materials. CCR is investing a significant amount of financial and organizational resources into each prospective volunteer mediator and therefore if an individual is accepted into the PVMP and does not complete the training program, or if certified through the PVMP and does not fulfill their volunteer commitment to CCR they may be required to reimburse CCR for the cost of the training that was covered by the PVMP, $1300, minus the $150 administrative fee. Completion of the PVMP does NOT guarantee certification as a CCR volunteer. All prospective volunteers will conduct 2 evaluated mediation simulations and must meet our performance-based evaluation criteria before being certified as a CCR volunteer mediator. CONTACT: Scott Hinkle |