Dispute Resolution Center Of Montgomery County Inc

TO PROVIDE AND PROMOTE AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES AND TRAINING TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY AREA.

MEDIATION: THE DRC-MC CONTINUES TO OFFER IN-PERSON, ZOOM, AND HYBRID MEDIATIONS, BUT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO REQUEST ZOOM AND HYBRID MEDIATIONS EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC IS OVER. ZOOM AND HYBRID MEDIATIONS ARE QUITE LABOR INTENSIVE DUE TO THE EXTRA PAPERWORK AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY REQUIRE.THEREFORE, THE DRC-MC CANNOT CONDUCT AS MANY MEDIATIONS AS IT COULD WHEN ALL MEDIATIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AT THE DRC-MC OFFICE. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, THE DRC-MC STILL CONDUCTED MEDIATIONS THAT AFFECTED OVER 3,200 INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND/OR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN FY 2022-2023. IN ADDITION TO REMOVING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASES FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT DOCKETS THROUGH SETTLEMENTS, DRC-MC MEDIATORS ALSO PREVENTED COMMUNITY DISPUTES FROM ESCALATING BY HELPING PEOPLE TO PEACEFULLY RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTES, REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND RESTORE COMMUNICATIONS. SIGNIFICANTLY, THE DRC-MC ALSO OFFERED NO COST PRO BONO MEDIATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD LEGAL OR MEDIATION FEES. DURING FY 2022-2023, DRC-MC MEDIATORS COMPLETED 235 PRO BONO MEDIATIONS, INCLUDING 66 CPS (CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES) MEDIATIONS. THE DRC-MC WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO ESTABLISH PEER MEDIATION PROGRAMS AT THREE (3) MONTGOMERY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS SO THAT TRAINED STUDENT MEDIATORS CAN ASSIST THEIR PEERS TO RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTES PEACEFULLY THROUGH MEDIATION.

TRAINING/EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE STILL REQUESTING TRAINING VIA ZOOM. AS NOTED ABOVE, ZOOM TRAININGS ARE MUCH MORE TIME INTENSIVE FOR STAFF/TRAINERS/MENTORS BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. DESPITE THIS CHALLENGE, THE DRC-MC STILL PROVIDED 301 HOURS OF MEDIATION RELATED TRAINING TO APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS. DURING THE FY 2022-2023, THE DRC-MC (1) CONDUCTED 40 HOUR GENERAL MEDIATION TRAINING CLASSES; (2) PROVIDED IN-PERSON "TRAIN THE TRAINER" PEER MEDIATION TRAINING TO TEACHERS/COUNSELORS FROM TWO (2) MONTGOMERY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS; (3) ESTABLISHED AND CONDUCTED IN-PERSON TWO (2)DAY PEACE CAMPS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-12; (4) DEVELOPED AND CONDUCTED MULTI-SESSION CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING SESSIONS FOR JUSTICE SYSTEM REFERRED YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS; (5) DEVELOPED AND CONDUCTED A TWO (2) DAY CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT INTERNS IN THE EFTA PROGRAM; (6) PROVIDED CUSTOM DESIGNED CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL NON-PROFITS SUCH AS CASA, ANGEL REACH, ETC.; (7) LED UNITY DAY CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING PROGRAMS AT TWO (2) AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS; (8) HELD THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION BOOKMARK ART CONTEST IN WHICH OVER 2,000 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 PARTICIPATED; AND (9) DISTRIBUTED OVER 16,000 BOOKMARKS SUPPORTING PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION ACROSS MONTGOMERY COUNTY. TO DATE, 11,000 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE DRC-MC CONFLICT RESOLUTION BOOKMARK ART CONTEST AND THE DRC-MC HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 64,000 BOOKMARKS WITH PEACE-BUILDING MESSAGES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.