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COME JOIN US

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer mediators at the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) are at the core of our mission and are at the forefront of practice in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) field. At CCR, volunteers have a unique opportunity to mediate a wide range of high conflict, high emotion disputes with diverse parties.

Ways to Volunteer with the Center for Conflict Resolution:

Mediator Mentorship Program

In order to be a volunteer mediator with CCR, individuals must participate in an intensive training program called the Mediator Mentorship Program (MMP).

The MMP is a 3-month mentorship program designed to prepare individuals to meet CCR's strict performance-based evaluation standard. Once they meet this standard, MMP participants commit to providing at least 18 months of top-quality mediation services in CCR's programs throughout the Chicagoland area. A prerequisite of the MMP program is recent completion of a 40-hour Mediation Skills Training (more details and approved trainings below).

Mediator Mentorship Program (MMP)

Mediator Mentorship Program 2024 Cycle Two

 

Application & Important Info

  • All applicants are required to attend one of the following info sessions via Zoom:

    • Session #1 - Tuesday, March 12, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST​ RSVP HERE

    • Session #2 - Wednesday, March 13, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. CST  RSVP HERE

  • Download the program requirements document with additional details HERE

  • Download the application HERE

  • Applications due on Monday, March 18, at 9:00 a.m.

    • Email completed applications to [email protected]

    • Notification of acceptance by April 12, 2024

  • Mentorship begins at the 2-day orientation session on Wednesday, April 24, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. IN PERSON at CCR's office & Thursday, April 25, from 9:00 - 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

  • Additional required training dates are scheduled for:

    • Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. via Zoom

    • Monday, June 17, 2024 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. via Zoom

    • Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in person at CCR’s Office in the Loop

Prerequisite Training Requirement:

Applicants to the MMP must have completed a 40-hour Mediation Skills Training (MST) program no more than 2-3 years prior to applying. This can be achieved at any organization on the Circuit Court of Cook County’s approved list (that list appears below).

  • If you have completed an approved MST within the last 2 years, you are qualified to apply to the MMP

  • If you have taken an approved MST within the last 2-3 years, please contact Israel Putnam, Volunteer Director, to discuss your individual circumstances

  • If it has been longer than 3 years since your approved MST, you must take a new, approved MST prior to applying for the MMP

  • If you need to take an approved MST, please see our website for training dates and registration opportunities with CCR. You will need to apply to the MMP after this training is completed

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT Israel Putnam, Volunteer Director:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 312-922-6464 Ext. 214

APPROVED 40 HR. TRAININGS

Center for Conflict Resolution

Title: 40-hour Mediation Skills Training

Aga Khan Conciliation and Arbitration Board (CAB USA)
The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center

De Paul University
College of Law Center For Dispute Resolution
Title: “Mediation Certificate Training Course”

Dispute Resolutions, Inc.
Broward County Bar Association Conference Center
Title: “Circuit Civil Mediation Certification Training”

 

Dominican University

Title: Mediation Skills Training

Harvard Law School

Harvard Negotiation Institute 

Title: “Mediation Workshop”


 

ICLEF (Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation)

Title: “Civil Mediation Training”

Illinois State Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association

Title: "40 Hour Mediation/Arbitration Training"

Mediation, Inc.

Title: “Civil Superior Court Mediation”

Miller, Andy B Mediation Skills, Inc.

Title: A 40-hour Performance Based Mediation Skills Training

National Judicial College
Title: “Civil Mediation”

Northwestern University
Title: “Mediation Skills Training”

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution Pepperdine University School of Law
Title: “Mediating the Litigated Case”

CCR Training Information, Dates, and Registration:

The Components of the MMP

  • Orientation to meet mentors and cohort

  • Fixed training dates with the entire cohort to cover topics like, Agreement Writing, Co-Mediation, Adapted Model Mediation for Court, and Using Technology in Mediation

  • Flexible, self-scheduled weekly training appointments with personal mentor for simulated mediations and skills-based exercises

  • Practical exam in a simulated mediation to achieve certification in the CCR model

  • 18-month commitment to mediate at least twice per month once certified

  • For more specifics, download the Program Details resource HERE 

Certification as a CCR Volunteer Mediator:

CCR Volunteer Mediators are trained, mentored and certified using a performance-based evaluation standard. In order to become certified as a CCR mediator, prospective volunteers must be able to demonstrate a master skill level in the CCR Mediation Model. CCR sets a high standard for training and certification – we work to provide the very highest level of service to our clients.

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