Marc Stanley is the executive director of Southeastern Dispute Resolution Services. He has spoken to our club a number of times and returned today to discuss resolution and mediation. Mediation is a private process where individuals have the opportunity to be heard, share different points of view, brainstorm options and negotiate a solution that meets everyone’s needs. The mediator facilitates communication and promotes voluntary decision making as participants work through the process. Participants are empowered to retain control of decision making as they work together to design a resolution

 

Mediation is: A communication process that works. A place to share concerns. A place to explore options and solutions. A place to make decisions for the future. Voluntary and private. More comfortable than a courtroom. Fast and inexpensive. Legally binding and more often fulfilled. And, helpful in restoring relationships. Mediation is not a legal process. A place to determine who’s right or wrong. Or, a place where you are told what to do.

 

The types of cases mediated include divorce, pre and post-judgment domestic relations, truancy, child protection, general civil claims case-evaluated at less than $25,000, general civil claims, landlord/tenant cases, small claims, guardianship, conservatorships, trusts and testamentary matters, employment cases, school conflict management services, restorative practices, peer mediation, truancy prevention, restorative conferencing, bullying prevention and the Michigan Special Education Mediation Program.

 

The mediation centers rely on volunteer mediator involvement for both implementation and service distribution. Mediators reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, have completed a minimum of a 40-hour training program approved by the State Court Administrative Office, and have met additional qualifications. They are highly skilled and have a passion for helping their community.