February 14-18, 2011 (4-day, Rule 114 Certified course for inclusion on the Minnesota Supreme Court Neutral Roster)
Cost: $995 Gov't/nonprofit rate and before Feb 1; $1,195.00 after Feb 1
Location: Hamline University, Minneapolis Campus
Course Description:
Mediation is a flexible and creative
process that offers families an opportunity to work out issues and
concerns in a way that most accurately reflects the needs, intentions
and abilities of the participants. The mediator is a neutral
facilitator, who uses the process of mediation to create an environment
for parties to communicate effectively, explore their needs and find
constructive outcomes.
This course provides trainees with a
mediation structure, emphasizes mediator tools and strategies for
effective communication and resolution and teaches a positive approach
to solving family legal issues that not only reduces tension in the
family but also leads to innovative solutions to family conflicts. The
five-day session includes a mixture of multi-media presentations,
demonstration of a family mediation session, skills practice, hands-on
exercises, role plays and real life examples. It also includes
psycho-dynamics of divorce, family law, domestic abuse issues, and
ethical concerns.
Trainees experience a supportive learning
environment that includes group discussion and individualized feedback
from experienced coaches. The simulations include both divorce and
post-decree cases. Our trainers are experienced mediators who create an
engaging atmosphere that encourages experimentation and participation.
Trainees find this course invaluable in their professional lives, in
formal mediation settings and for informal conflict management. The
course is highly rated by psychologists, marriage and family therapists,
guardians ad litem, and other professionals.
Who Should Attend:
Individuals who want to mediate
court-referred family cases, professionals who work with children,
parents and families in conflict: attorneys, psychologists, therapists,
counselors, social workers. This course can be adapted for your group or
organization. Contact us at mediationcenter@gw.hamline.edu or by phone at 651-523-2880.
Syllabus
Setting the Context:
- Psychodynamics of Conflict, Separation and Divorce
- The Legal Process
- Rule 114 - Spectrum of Conflict Resolution Processes
- Difference between Mediation and Arbitration
Mediation: Philosophy and Values
- Basic Assumptions about Family Mediation
- Interest-Based Negotiation - The Core of the Mediation Process
Structure of Mediation and the Mediator's Role
- Skills of the Family Mediator
- Preparation and Intake
Domestic Abuse Issues
- Screening for Domestic Abuse
- Screening Exercise
The Mediation Process: Step One - Orientation
- Orientation Demonstration
- Orientation Preparation
The Mediation Process: Step Two - Information Gathering
- Information Gathering Demonstration
- Identifying Interests, Issues and Positions
- Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Psychodynamics
The Mediation Process: Step Three - Framing Issues
- Framing Issues Exercise
- Simulation: Reasonables, Part I - Identifying and Framing Issues
The Mediation Process: Step Four - Identifying Interests
- Identifying Interests Demonstration
- Simulation: Reasonables, Part II - Child Custody
- Focus on Interests - Fishbowl Exercise
- Listening Skills
- Impact of Divorce on Children
- Parenting Issues
The Mediation Process: Step Five - Generating and Evaluating Options - Focus on Parenting
- Generating Parenting Options Exercise
- Evaluating Parenting Options
- Simulation: Reasonables, Part III - Parenting Options
The Mediation Process: Step Five - Generating and Evaluating Options - Focus on Property Issues
- Generating Options Regarding Property
- Evaluating Options Regarding Property
- Simulation: Reasonables, Part IV - Property Issues
Child Support and Maintenance Issues
- Simulation: Money Matters - Child Support
- Paternity
- Ethics I
Intervening to Break Impasse
- Intervening to Break Impasse Exercise
- Caucusing with Parties
The Mediation Process: Step Six - Closing the Mediation
- Simulation: The Washingtons
- Writing Agreements
- Simulation: The Goldsteins
Post-Decree Issues and Statutes
- Simulation: Andersons - Post-Decree Issues
Power Imbalance and Domestic Abuse Issues
The Business of Mediation
- Requirements of MN Rule 114
- Co-Mediation
Simulation: Johnsons
Ethics II: Samoan Circle
The Trainers
AIMEE GOURLAY
Director at Mediation Center at Hamline University, joined the Center
in 1993. Ms. Gourlay mediates and co-mediates family issues and consults
with parties on selection of mediators for family cases. Ms. Gourlay
was on the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Family Alternative
Dispute Resolution and was a coauthor of proposed amendments to the Rule
114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Civil Practice which require
consideration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”), including
mediation, in family law cases.
KATHERINE NEVINS,
Ph.D. Dr. Nevins has been mediating family and organizational issues
since 1987. As a trainer and facilitator she has taught hundreds of
individuals communication, mediation, and negotiation skills. She has
special expertise in large group conflict resolution and in disputes
involving complex psychological issues. As a professor of psychology at
Bethel University, she has done research on the impact of divorce on
children. Dr. Nevins is a charter member of the State of Minnesota
Special Education Mediation Service Panel, the Panel of mediators for
the United States Postal Service, and the State of Minnesota Cooperation
for the Children program. She is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of
the Minnesota General Rules of Civil Practice. Dr. Nevins holds a PhD.
in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
SUSAN D. MAINZER
Susan D. Mainzer was named a Leading American Attorney in the
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) areas of employment, commercial law
and family matters. She is an experienced ADR practitioner, a trainer,
retreat facilitator, workplace coach and organizational development
consultant.
Susan is recognized for her expertise in
helping people in highly conflicted relationships and from diverse
backgrounds reach agreements. She frequently mediates family and other
interpersonal cases, or serves as a parenting plan expeditor. She is
often asked to serve as a Moderator for divorce settlement conferences
in Ramsey County. She regularly mediates workplace disputes, insurance
and business matters.
Ms. Mainzer has provided trainings in
negotiation, family and civil mediation for Mediation Center and the
American Arbitration Association. She was among ten American mediators
chosen to participate in an international cross cultural conflict
resolution study held in Germany. As an organizational development
consultant, she helps design innovative conflict management processes,
coaches individuals in conflict resolution strategies; she creates
customized trainings in communication and appreciative inquiry to
improve the workplace climate.
Susan Mainzer is a Practitioner Member of
the Association for Conflict Resolution. She is a qualified neutral for
family, contracts, personal injury and employment cases under Rule 114
of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. Ms. Mainzer earned her law
degree from the University of Wisconsin’s School of Law. She previously
staffed the Minnesota Senate’s Public Utilities Committee and the
Minnesota House’s State Departments Appropriations Committee. From
1999-2001 she worked at the Metropolitan Council as an internal
facilitator, trainer and organizational development consultant.
Since 1986, Susan has served as an
arbitrator and mediator on the American Arbitration Association’s
commercial panel. She mediates family cases for Catholic Charities,
Ramsey County Family Court, and Mediation Center. In 1998, she was
trained to mediate postal service employment discrimination claims in
Minnesota. Susan Mainzer was selected to join the Wisconsin and
Minnesota State Special Education Mediation Panels. She has been
mediating special education cases since 1997.