The Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management General Brochure
WHAT CAN THE COMMISSION DO FOR YOU?
ABOUT THE COMMISSION
WHAT DOES THE COMMISSION DO?
WHY ARE METHODS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES AND MANAGING CONFLICTS NEEDED?
WHAT ARE THESE METHODS?
THE RANGE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES
WHAT CAN THE COMMISSION DO FOR YOU?
The Commission is a resource for Ohio citizens interested in learning more about dispute resolution and conflict management as well as how to implement programs in their schools, courts, communities, and state and local government agencies. The Commission can assist interested parties by providing:
- Information about where to get assistance in resolving conflicts or disputes.
- Information about education and training programs, including consumer guides.
- Materials, consultation and technical assistance for starting school, community or government dispute resolution programs.
- Training for state agencies.
- Speakers and presentations on dispute resolution and conflict management.
- Manuals, reports, and videotapes for designing, implementing and evaluating dispute resolution programs.
- Mediation, Facilitation, Casework and Referrals are provided for state and local government agencies who are seeking assistance to resolve conflicts.
ABOUT THE COMMISSION
Since opening its doors in 1990, the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management has worked to change the way Ohioans deal with conflict.
More than ever, people are living with an increasing amount of complexity and change that causes conflict in their lives. Many people find conflict destructive, and few feel equipped to manage it effectively. When handled properly however, conflict can be a powerful force for creating productive solutions between individuals, organizations, and governments.
The Commission consists of twelve volunteer members, including: attorneys, business and labor representatives, community leaders and educators. Members are appointed by the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. By cutting across political, economic, and social boundaries, the Commission has pioneered problem-solving methods and initiated programs to provide alternatives to fighting, impasse, and litigation.
Working with a small, skilled staff of dispute resolution and conflict management experts, the agency serves as teacher, catalyst, consultant, collaborator, trainer and evaluator. Its mission is to disseminate information about positive ways to manage conflict and resolve disputes.
WHAT DOES THE COMMISSION DO?
The Commission focuses its efforts in four primary areas across Ohio --schools, courts/communities, and government and works with individuals and organizations to increase knowledge and use of dispute resolution techniques. The Commission also provides assistance in managing conflicts. Some of the avenues taken to perform these services are listed below.
Training and Education:
The Commission presents hundreds of hours of informational seminars and training workshops. In addition, the Commission maintains a resource center with publications, videotapes, and other materials about dispute resolution and conflict management.
Program Design and Implementation:
In partnership with schools, courts, community groups, and state and local government officials, the Commission initiates pilot programs. It evaluates these programs to determine the best methods for implementing the use of dispute resolution techniques in various settings and situations.
Mediation and Facilitation Casework and Referrals:
These services are provided for state and local government officials and agencies who are seeking assistance to resolve conflicts.
SCHOOLS:
The Commission works with education professionals administrators, counselors, and teachers at the state and local levels to promote comprehensive approaches to incorporating conflict management skills in primary and secondary schools. Through grants, training, and the development of curricular materials, the Commission, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Education, initiates conflict management programs in elementary, middle and high schools. The Commission also works with school-related organizations to provide opportunities for networking and sharing information.
COMMUNITIES AND COURTS:
The Commission works with court and community organizations to encourage and support the growth of programs throughout Ohio that provide conflict resolution services to neighbors, local businesses and consumers, and local governments and citizens. The Commission wants Ohio s citizens to have the opportunity to learn about effective ways to manage conflict and to be able to have a variety of dispute resolution options available.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
Commission staff provide training and consultation throughout state government in various agencies. Facilitation and mediation services are also available. The focus of these services is to increase the use conflict management in both internal and external operations.
The Commission, in partnership with several organizations, has developed a program to train local government officials in problem solving and conflict management skills. It assists in resolving disputes among local government bodies or officials throughout the state. The Commission has also developed a workplace mediation program to assist state employees in informally resolving workplace disputes.
WHY ARE METHODS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES AND MANAGING CONFLICTS NEEDED?
Most people are familiar with the traditional means of resolving disputes through litigation, violence or avoidance. Litigation is an important and valuable process; however, many disputes can be resolved by less adversarial means. Violence creates disruptions that often go beyond the conflicting parties to affect the larger society. Avoiding a problem may put it off, but seldom resolves it. Schools, courts, communities and government agencies require a variety of approaches to address conflict. These institutions also require the capacity to assist individuals to resolve and to teach new ways to manage conflicts.
WHAT ARE THESE METHODS?
Conflict management teaches individuals concepts and skills to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts. Dispute resolution encompasses a spectrum of skills and processes, ranging from direct negotiation to intervention of an impartial third party skilled in problem-solving. Some processes, such as mediation, are more informal and are designed to help the parties develop their own solutions. Other more formal processes, such as arbitration, may give an outside third party authority to impose binding solutions on the disputing parties.
THE RANGE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES INCLUDES:
Negotiation:
Disputing parties engage in discussions to explore their interests and needs in an effort to reach agreement. An outside neutral is not involved.
Collaborative Problem Solving/Consensus Building:
Parties work together to define problems and generate options and objective criteria to reach decisions by consensus. A third party may provide facilitation for the group.
Conciliation:
An impartial third party works informally with disputants involved in a conflict that has escalated to a point where the parties cannot communicate effectively face-to-face. The third party operates to lower tensions, improve communication, and explore possible solutions.
Facilitation:
An impartial third party provides guidance to design and manage the communications process. A facilitator helps a group work toward effective participation and communication to resolve a problem or address a set of related issues.
Mediation:
An impartial third party assists disputing parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. The mediator guides the parties in developing their own resolution of the issues and does not impose a decision on them.
Arbitration:
An impartial third party listens to a guments from both sides, then issues a decision. The process may be mandatory or voluntary and is generally less formal than a courtroom. The decision may be binding or nonbinding. The exact nature of the process and decision is usually prescribed by court rule or contract.
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