Community Mediation Program’s unique Basic Mediation Training curriculum has become a model statewide and nationally.
With a heavy focus on experiential learning, the training continues to produce high quality mediators with the concrete skills needed to mediate real-world conflict.
Community Mediation Program’s curriculum meets and exceeds the requirements of Maryland Rule 17-106. It includes 50 hours of training and an apprenticeship consisting of one observation and two co-mediations with very experienced mediators.
Training objectives include mastery of:
- Basic conflict and mediation theory;
- Advanced listening skills;
- Issue identification;
- Identification of participants’ feelings and values;
- Neutral language and reframing;
- Brainstorming and facilitating the development of solutions;
- Asking appropriate open-ended questions;
- Mediator conduct, including conflicts of interest, confidentiality, neutrality, ethics and standards of practice; and
- Simulations and role-playing critiqued by experienced mediators.
- Forty-five hours of classroom training are followed by an apprenticeship, including two observations of real mediation sessions and two co-mediations with very experienced mediators. The training is complete only when a 5-hour follow-up training session is used to debrief apprenticeship experiences and insights, while solidifying core skills.
Mediator training is offered for free to CMP volunteer community mediators, who make a 120-hour commitment of volunteer service in Baltimore neighborhoods. CMP also offers mediator training to groups and individuals for a fee.
To become a volunteer community mediator
Click here, or phone Rick Buccheri, Volunteer Coordinator.
To schedule and design a 50-hour mediator training
Call Brenda Harris, Director of Community Education, at 410-467-9165.