MWI's DIVORCE MEDIATION TRAINING - click
here to register for this course
MWI's Divorce Mediation Training Program is a
comprehensive twenty-four hour divorce mediation training designed to provide
participants with the knowledge and skills to become effective divorce mediators
through demonstrations, presentations, exercises, written materials and
role-plays. This program is for mediators who have completed at least 30-hours
of mediation training and are interested in incorporating divorce mediation into
their practice. Opportunities to observe and mediate with Mediation Works
Incorporated are available upon successful completion of the training program
and post-training skill assessment (see below).
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
This program is designed to:
- Prepare mediators to work with divorcing
couples in mediation - from case screening to the mediator’s opening to
agreement writing;
- Increase mediators’ capacity to apply a
negotiation framework to the mediation process and assist parties in their
efforts to define issues, focus their interests and generate options that
secure sound resolutions within the context of divorce;
- Inform mediators about mediating divorce cases
in the “shadow of the law” and how to help couples work through a
variety of issues including support, division of assets/liabilities,
custody, insurance, tax filing, etc.;
- Provide mediators with information about the
effects of divorce on adults and children;
- Assist mediators in their efforts to recognize
when assistance of other professionals may be helpful to the mediation
process.
PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE
- Mediation Manual and Resources:
A complete guide to divorce mediation including post-training practice
reference materials and a bibliography.
Certificate of Completion: For Advanced Mediation Training in Divorce
with MWI and in accordance with
M.G.L.
Chapter 233 section 23C (Confidentiality Statute). This program also fulfills the continuing education requirement specified in Rule 8(c)(iii) of
the Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution.
CEU’s: This program has been approved for 22.5 Category 1 Continuing Education Hours for relicensure with NASW and
an application is pending for 24 Category 1 Continuing Education Hours with MMCEP
for LMHCs.
Ethics and Probate & Family Court Overview: In
accordance with Rule 7(h), (i) and Rule 9 of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Court Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
- Property distributions, valuation and division
of assets, pensions, life insurance, health insurance and taxes;
- The nature and dynamics of conflict within
families;
- Impact of divorce on children;
- Screening cases for domestic violence and
substance abuse;
- Ethical duties and dilemmas facing divorce
mediators;
- A review of principles, methods and styles of
mediation;
- Defining issues, identifying interests,
analyzing alternatives, transmitting information, communicating effectively
and generating options for resolution within the divorce context;
- The art of effective questioning, interactive
listening & empathy;
- Dealing with power differentials, challenging
personalities and challenges to mediator neutrality;
- Legal and physical custody;
- Child support, parenting plans and alimony;
- Psychological stages of divorce;
- Preparing memoranda of understanding and other
agreements;
- Growing a divorce mediation practice, securing
professional liability insurance and opportunities in the field;
- and more…
PREREQUISITES
Mediators
must have completed at least 30-hours of basic mediation training in
accordance with M.G.L.
Chapter 233 section 23C (Confidentiality Statute)
Experience:
Mediators must have experience mediating at least ten cases in the
past two years.
Questions?
Contact Josh Hoch at 617-973-9739 x23 or
jhoch@mwi.org.
DATES / TIMES / LOCATION
next program -
April 22-24, 2011Day 1 - Friday, April 22, 2011 - 9:00 AM to
6:00 PM (the Union Club - see below)
Day 2 - Saturday, April 23, 2011 - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Suffolk Law School
- see below)
Day 3 - Sunday, April 24, 2011 - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Suffolk Law School -
see below)
Location(s):
-
Suffolk
University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston MA. Suffolk Law
School is accessible by the “T” on the red, green and orange lines and/or
by car from Routes 95/128, 90 and 93. Discounted parking is available for $5
per weeknight after 4:00 PM and/or per weekend day. Please call the office at
800-348-4888 x22 or click here for hotel
information.
- The Union Club - 8 Park Street Boston, MA 02108. The Union Club is accessible by the "T" on the red
line (Park Street) or by car from Routes 93 and 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike). (Click
here for a map and driving directions.)
Register for
this course...
Please see our Advanced
Training Program Overview for additional dates and programs.
Looking to participate in a basic mediation
training program for the first time? Click here to
learn more about the differences between MWI's
Forty-Hour Mediation
Training Program and MWI's Executive Forty-Hour
Mediation Training
Program.
TRAINERS and COACHES
Also in attendance will be trainers and role-play coaches from
the divorce and family mediation communities.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS
Michael L. Leshin is a Certified Divorce Mediator with
the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation (MCFM) and a
partner at Ginsburg & Leshin, LLP in Wellelsey. He is the
co-author of "Mediation and Other Dispute Resolution
Alternatives," Chapter Four of the Massachusetts Divorce Law
Practice Manual and "Dispute Resolution Alternatives to
Promote Positive Parenting and Childhood Experiences,"
Chapter One of Paternity and the Law of Parentage in
Massachusetts, both published by MCLE. He is the author of
the annual MCLE publication, "Massachusetts Family Law
Sourcebook." Michael is a past President and Director of
MCFM. He has spoken on divorce tax issues for the Academy of
Family Mediators, the New York State Council on Divorce
Mediation, the Boston Bar Association and Massachusetts
Continuing Legal Education. He is a fellow of the
Massachusetts chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers.
REGISTRATION AND COST
The cost of the training is $775 per person (or
$725 if
registered a month in advance of the program). Please call 800-348-4888 x23 or
send an email to mwi@mwi.org for a brochure
and registration form. Space is limited to 24 participants.
Register for this
course... POST-TRAINING VOLUNTEER MEDIATION
OPPORTUNITIES
Following this training mediators can apply to mediate
divorce and family cases on a volunteer basis with MWI. MWI
has opportunities for new divorce and family mediators to
co-mediate cases on Thursdays in the Suffolk Probate and
Family Court with experienced MWI mediators.
POST-TRAINING DIVORCE MEDIATION PAID PRACTICUM
A participant who successfully completes MWI’s
Divorce Mediation Training and MWI’s post-training skill assessment may
observe and/or co-mediate with MWI’s Divorce Panel members any divorce
mediation cases, barring any conflict of interest, that the participant brings
to MWI directly or via a referral.
MWI recognizes that after participants receive
mediation training they are often left without a place to mediate and do not
know how to get the experience to successfully obtain clients and build a
practice. MWI’s goal is to break that cycle by providing post-training
opportunities to newly trained divorce mediators. MWI will meet this goal by
providing new divorce mediators opportunities to:
- Observe and learn from experienced divorce
mediators who will share best practices, answer questions and provide
guidance; and to
- Mediate for pay with experienced divorce
mediators in appropriate mediations.
After the participant refers the case to MWI, MWI’s
Director of Mediation Services will handle all administrative aspects of the
case including: client intake, screening, dissemination of information, fee
discussions, assignment of co-mediators and first session scheduling.
For more information about MWI’s Post-Training
Divorce Mediation Practicum, please contact Josh
Hoch, Director of Mediation Services at 617-973-9739 x23 or jhoch@mwi.org.
Register for this
course...
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