Virtual Dispute Resolution Training

The Volunteers of America Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) is an alternative dispute resolution center with extensive experience as a mediation and training program. Become a certified mediator through one of our online training sessions and learn how to facilitate mediations in families, in your community with landlord/tenant disputes, or in the workplace between employees.

Virtual Basic Professional
Mediation Training (40 hours)

Basic Professional Mediation Training (BMT) is an intensive eight days of learning to be a neutral third party: a mediator. Participants will learn the facilitative eight-stage mediation model, conflict theory and styles, mediator communication skills, interest-based negotiations, collaborative problem solving, the mediator's role and principles of conflict resolution. The training integrates lectures, presentations, demonstrations, and coached mediation role plays. Students will be provided basic instruction on how to work within the online learning environment for this virtual training. Clock Hours, CLEs, and college credits are available. This course also meets the mediation training requirements for Collaborative Law professionals.

Virtual Family Mediation Training (24 hours)

Family Mediation Training teaches mediators how to help families resolve conflicts with a primary focus on helping couples through a dissolution. Participants learn how to handle emotionally volatile situations, help parents focus on the needs of their children in order to create and modify parenting plans, and mediator techniques for dealing with difficult family cases. 

Community Mediation Training (16 hours)

The Community Mediation Training (CMT) is a 16-hour class for beginning mediators who want to work toward mediator certification in the Community Mediation Practicum track. You will learn how to handle the varied mediations of Small Claims Court, Landlord/Tenant cases, and Eviction Prevention cases. Participants will learn about the typical issues encountered in these cases, tips for mediating them, mediating with attorneys, and court protocols and will dive deep into power balancing, working with strong emotions, and negotiation. This training integrates lecture presentations, exercises, discussions, and mediation role-plays to learn the information and practice the skills taught. Expand your mediator’s skillset and confidently mediate all situations with a better understanding of human interactions and conflict.

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Basic Mediation Training is a prerequisite for this class.

Trauma-Informed Training 1.0

Trauma-Informed Training 1.0 is two half-days of learning about trauma and the importance of being trauma-informed. You will learn the definition and types of trauma along with the “Four Rs” in the 6-hour course:

• Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for recovery

• Recognize the sign and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system

• Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices

• Actively resist re-traumatization

De-Escalation Training

This half-day course offers participants the opportunity to look at their relationship with conflict.

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Participants will learn:

• what happens to us when we get triggered

• how can we make positive choices to de-escalate conflict rather than make it worse

• useful strategies to help others when they are triggered into battle mode.

Gain an understanding of interest-based conflict model and discuss best practices for self-de-escalation and de-escalation of others. You will also have an opportunity to practice skills.

Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

"Separate Homes Connected Families" Co-Parenting Class (3 hours)