Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center schedules online mediation training

Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) has announced a full schedule of online mediation training in April and May to accommodate the anticipated increase for mediation services.

Participants in WCDRC’s training sessions come from a wide variety of backgrounds including current or retired teachers, social workers, law students, attorneys and others who are interested in volunteering their services and giving back to the local community.

“Mediation offers an affordable and sustainable way to resolve disputes for a variety of issues,” said Zeina Baydoun, WCDRC executive director. “During this pandemic, a lot of disputes have been backlogged. We can help.”

WCDRC is one of 18 non-profit dispute resolution centers in Michigan, providing mediation services for Wayne County’s Third District Circuit, Juvenile, and Probate Courts as well as mediations for general civil, small claims, landlord-tenant, neighbor disputes, elder care, and Child Protective Services.

According to Baydoun, last spring the Center quickly pivoted to providing online mediation services as well as online training of mediators.

“While we appreciate the value of in person mediations and training, we’ve experienced other benefits with online mediation that keep everyone safe and reach people where they are,” said Baydoun. “The same applies to mediation training, and our highly qualified mediation instructors have mastered the online classes.”

In April, the Center will hold two 40-hour virtual General Civil Mediation Training sessions, approved by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). Attorneys Phillip Schaedler and Melissa Divan will lead the first 40-hour session beginning April 9 to 11 and April 23 to 25. The second session will be led by Attorney Zena Zumeta and Dayna Harper on April 22 to 24, and April 30 to May 1. Details, dates, and hours for both sessions are available on the WCDRC website wcdrc.org/training/general-civil.

In May, the Center has scheduled an online SCAO-approved 40-hour Domestic Relations Mediation training along with a required 8-hour Domestic Violence Screening Training led by attorneys Antoinette Raheem and Earlene Baggett-Hayes.

Sessions will be held during seven weekdays, beginning May 3 to May 14. Training dates and hours are available at wcdrc.org/training/domestic.

Training participants for all online sessions will need a computer camera, Internet access and receive a manual along with case studies, discussion, role play exercises, and videotapes of mediations.

Baydoun added, “Our instructors and trainees have shared the engaging and dynamic dialogue that is still possible even in the virtual Zoom format. We hope to continue offering the online training format for the foreseeable future.”

Registration is currently open for the online General Civil and Domestic Mediation training sessions. For additional information, visit www.wcdrc.org or email info@wcdrc.org.