Volunteer
As a volunteer with our organization you’ll receive a warm welcome!
We offer an initial meeting with our Executive Director to discuss your background and experience, as well as your specific goals as a volunteer. Following this, every volunteer undergoes the 40 hour Basic Mediation Training course, (see our training section), during which we require three live case observations and four live mediation sessions for evaluation. From this point forward, additional training will be offered to include specialized courses available through our partner Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRC) State-wide, or through the Deschutes County Circuit Court Mediation Program, amongst others.
Our volunteers are highly regarded and approach each mediation activity with professionalism. Many develop their own unique style and practices for cases, and you’ll be more than welcome to do the same. We respect your personal commitments and travel plans and make every effort to offer case opportunities well in advance of scheduled sessions so that your volunteer time comes at a time most convenient for you.
Volunteer Training Program
At Community Solutions, we believe that our commitment to volunteer development is the key to our success.
Our mediators are the primary reason that we handle the widest variety of cases in the Central Oregon tri-county area.
All of our volunteers are required to take our Basic Mediation Training (BMT) course, which meets the requirements of the University of Oregon (UO) policy and the standards adopted by Resolution Oregon (https://www.resolutionoregon.org/) , which includes observations, co-mediation, and senior mentor coaching. Volunteers must also keep current with their hours of Continuing Education (CE) as required per UO policy and OACDRC standards. We also coordinate regular “brown bag” trainings as well as other resources to keep our mediators connected and involved.
In addition, many of our volunteers have successfully completed advanced training in areas such as: Court Procedures, Parenting Plan and Dissolution, Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Program (OFAP), FED Procedures for landlord/tenant cases, Manufactured Communities, and Probate Guardianship/Conservatorship.
Upon completion of the BMT course, we meet individually with volunteers to complete their coaching, and review their background, experience and personal goals as they relate to community service and mediation. We also review confidentiality, conflict of interest, and background check requirements prior to a volunteer beginning their role as a mediator.
Best Practices
Community Solutions has an established, professional volunteer program in place that continues to evolve and improve as individual and community needs change region-wide.
Our staff and more than 35 trained volunteers help facilitate and mediate all types of cases throughout Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. Some, but not all, cases may involve issues and disputes around divorced or separated parents, child visitation needs, home foreclosure avoidance, small claims, the workplace, between landlords and tenants, at mobile home parks, within homeowner associations, between neighbors, and with conservator and guardianship matters.
To handle such a wide variety of case types and situations, Community Solutions showcases three best practices that are time-tested and proven successful. After all, a well trained and developed mediator is the best alternative for two parties needing to resolve a dispute. In short, we Observe, Evaluate, and Mentor. We require new mediators to ‘Observe’ three real cases handled by a more seasoned mediator. Next, we require the soon-to-be active mediator to be evaluated at least twice during a case they lead mediation efforts on, all under the watchful eye of a seasoned mediator. Finally, we strive to pair active mediators with our most seasoned mediation practitioners who serve as a mentor. These mentors, in turn also serve to assist our staff with program and case management, as well as serving to mentor high school or college interns.
For more on how to request mediation as a viable alternative to helping resolve conflict, contact our Community Solutions staff.
Volunteer Profiles
Our volunteers come from all walks of life to include backgrounds in education, law, social services, military, government, business, finance, non-profit and law enforcement.
Three volunteer profiles on display show the diversity of those who’ve joined our ranks these past 18 years.
First, C.Y. came to mediation via a background in ministry and the electrical contracting industry. Now with more than 17 years of community service and mediation under his belt, he’s not only in our organization’s Hall of Fame, but serves as an active mentor to Board Members and staff alike.
Next, C.L. came to mediation via a background in the banking industry. Now, with more than a decade of mediation experience, she’s a critical member of our Board of Directors and often assists staff in a variety of financial and accounting practices.
And finally, K.S. has most recently come to mediation via a background in the real estate industry. She now is progressing through the required observation of cases required to mediate on her own in what we’re confident will be a very short time.