Commitment to Best Practices

Soon after I opened my mediation practice, I sought a professional organization that both reflected my needs as a practitioner and also promoted high standards in the alternative dispute resolution practices.  The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) was created about 14 years ago after merging three separate but similar organizations in the interest in of collaborating and channeling funding sources.  ACR encompasses alternative dispute resolution practitioners that include mediators, trainers, facilitators, arbitrators, conflict coaches, educators and researchers.  The three arms of ACR are practitioners, education and research that relates to alternative dispute resolution processes.

Within ACR are sections to help further specific areas within the organization.  One of these sections is the Workplace Section which is second in size only to the Family Section.  Three years ago I became one of the tri-chairs for the Workplace Section.  Recently, I was elected to the ACR Board of Directors and am now at the beginning of a 3 year commitment.  This is my first experience at serving on a board.  I have been tasked with growing and retaining membership as the commitee chair which will be a challenge given that many associations and organizations are faced with a decline in membership.  A priority is working with the ACR board on making membership in ACR a value and standard for those that offer professional practices in alternative dispute resolution.  Part of this includes educating the public about the work that ACR does to develop and raise standards around alternative dispute resolution, promote continuing education, provide certification of training programs, build community and networks within our field, recognize advanced practitioners and continue to hold annual conferences.

While ACR does not "certify" mediators and practitioners, there is an expectation that professionals in their field belong to an association that promotes ethical standards of performance.  Curiously, physicians do not have to belong to the American Medical Association nor do they have to be board certified.  Given the choice, wouldn't you prefer to have a physician who subscribes to standards of the AMA over another physician who does not?  Who has services that are more valuable to you as a potential patient putting their health in the hands of another?  Who would you trust more?  The same can be said for mediators and other alternative dispute resolution practitioners.  This field is not generally regulated and just about anybody who attends a basic mediation training will call themselves a mediator.  Florida is one of the only states that actually certifies their mediators.  Hawai'i does not certify mediators so if someone claims to be "certified", I would ask more questions about their experience, training and overall qualifications including if they have a membership with ACR.

This Thursday is Conflict Resolution Day which represents the promotion, value and practices of alternative dispute resolution throughout the world.  I like to think of it as "hug a mediator" day, too.  The Mayor of Maui and the County Council are both involved with issuing proclamations and resolutions to recognize the contribution alternative dispute resolution practices have provided for our community, families, workplaces and world at large.  And although we officially get one day each year, I hope that I represent the values and practices of alternative dispute resolution the other 364 days, too.