Court News
May 5, 2006
Supreme Court to Recognize 10th Annual Conflict Management Week
The Dispute Resolution Section of the Supreme Court of Ohio will join citizens and organizations statewide next week to promote and recognize the importance of effective approaches to managing and resolving conflicts.
Conflict Management Week 2006 is May 7-13 in Ohio. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the weeklong event that celebrates the use of non-adversarial solutions to conflicts.
“We've set aside this week to highlight the importance of resolving our differences civilly through conversation and structured discussion – methods that are effective for developing long-lasting solutions,” Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer said. “We can all hope that over the next 10 years, Ohioans will have even greater access to dispute resolution programs and will come to accept mediation, not litigation, as the first choice for settling disagreements.”
Ohio is nationally known for its approach to conflict management. Over the past 10 years, alternative forms of dispute resolution have become commonplace in Ohio schools, communities and courts. Today, mediation programs are available in one or more courts in 84 of Ohio's 88 counties. The state also leads the nation in supporting school-based conflict management programs, with more than 1,800 schools possessing some form of conflict management program.
In state government, the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management promotes and teaches state and local government agencies how to use collaborative processes to address and resolve controversial public policy issues.
Events scheduled for Conflict Management Week 2006 are as follows:
- Dr. Jeanne A. Clement, president of the board of trustees for the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, will lead a “Mental Health and Substance Abuse Screening in Mediation” training workshop for court-connected mediators, program coordinators and other court staff from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at the Ohio Judicial Center, 65 S. Front St., downtown Columbus.
- There will be a bullying prevention symposium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at the Riffe Center, 77 South High Street in Columbus. Dr. James Garbarino, a nationally recognized leading authority on childhood development and youth violence, will deliver the keynote address.
- The Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution is sponsoring a workplace mediation program on Wednesday, May 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Riffe Center, 77 South High Street in Columbus.
- Dr. Larry Brendtro, president or Reclaiming Youth International, will deliver the keynote address at the “Positive Strategies for Effective Classroom Management” seminar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 11, at the Riffe Center, 77 South High Street in Columbus.
- The Franklin County Courthouse, 375 South High Street, Columbus, will host a mediator open house from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 11.
- The Ohio Mediation Annual Conference will be held Friday, May 12, at the Riffe Center, 77 South High Street, Columbus. Nationally known mediator, author and trainer, Robert Benjamin, will speak about advanced mediation skills training.
Contact: Katie Riedel or Chris Davey at the Supreme Court 614.387.9250.