12 Nov Welcome to the new Montana Mediation Association (MtMA) Newsletter!
Our
top priorities at the MtMA are advancing mediation across Montana while
connecting and educating individual mediators and others who are
interested in mediation. To support that goal, we have created this
newsletter to keep the Montana mediation community informed and
inspired.
We will be sending out this newsletter several times a year to share
events, information and interesting news, and you are receiving this
because you are either a current member, past member, or someone we have
crossed paths with over the years. If you ever want to unsubscribe, you
can do so by following the instructions at the bottom of this email.
Thank you for your work and enjoy!
The MtMA Board of Directors
Upcoming Mediation Events and Training in Montana and the region:
Workplace Mediation Training
- November 13th & 14th, 2019
- Community Dispute Resolution Center (Missoula)
- Click here for more details
Mediation Fundamentals Training
- The Billings Mediation Center will once again host this affordable blended (in-person/online) training in the Spring of 2020 (February, March and April).
- This training can be taken anywhere in the state. All you need is an internet connection and (ideally) some local partners with whom to do role plays.
- Click here for more information
- Reach out to the center if you are interested: info@billingsmediationcenter.org
Online Training
- The Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM) is holding its annual conference in Boston from November 7-9. If you can’t be there in-person, consider participating via an online livestream
The MtMA Launches Innovative new Eldercare Mediation Certification and Program
The MtMA has received a grant to prevent and delay resident discharges from Montana Nursing Homes. Through this program, families, residents and eldercare facilities may use certified eldercare mediators to resolve problems leading to discharge notices.
- Read all about it in this article from the Sidney Herald: Montana families receive assistance to resolve nursing home disputes on discharges
- Residents, families, facilities, or others affected by potential elder discharge should contact the MtMA for more information about finding an eldercare certified mediator and accessing grant funds to subsidize the cost of mediation.
- Mediators interested in becoming Eldercare certified should contact LaDawn Whiteside at: ladawnwhiteside@gmail.com
Billings Mediation Center Creates New Program
The recently established Billings Mediation Center has received a grant from the Montana Justice Foundation to support its partnership with the Yellowstone County Justice Court, called the Conflict Resilience Project. This program will provide at least five justice court mediations per month, and the center has more mediators in training, hoping to increase the number of mediations it can offer as more mediators become certified. More information about programs and trainings can be read at www.BillingsMediationCenter.org
Mediation in the news:
The radio show, On The Media, recently released an excellent 3-part series called “Repairing Justice” about how to fix problems with the Justice System, and mediation was a major focus:
- The first episode was about how online mediation can be used to detoxify internet culture, bullying and harassment
- The second episode was about how using mediation and restorative justice techniques can serve as an alternative to incarceration
The full series was very well done and highlighted the great value of mediated conflict resolution. Give it a listen!
Are you interested in starting a mediation center or program?
Montana currently has 3 established regional mediation centers:
- The Community Dispute Resolution Center in Missoula
- The Community Mediation Center in Bozeman
- The Billings Mediation Center in Billings
We have heard from others that they would like to start community mediation centers, mediation programs in their local court systems, or some other form of mediation-related work where they live. The MtMA would love to see a mediation center in every community in Montana! So, if you are interested in starting or expanding mediation work in your local place, please contact us so we can get you connected with the resources and support you need to be successful no matter what stage of the process you are in currently.
How can we be better?
We are here to serve mediators and mediation in Montana, so if you have any thoughts, suggestions, questions, needs or feedback about how we can do our work better, we are all ears! You can always reach us via email or over the phone: 406-579-2371