Funding for this document was provided by Grant #H023M20010 from the Division of Innovation and Development, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, United States Department of Education.
Appendices
APPENDIX A: Job Descriptions
APPENDIX B: Direction Service Conciliation Project Satisfaction Survey
APPENDIX C: Forms
Agreement to Mediate in Conciliation Session / Agreement to Confidentiality
Authorization for Release and Exchange of Information
Special Note: The IDEA '97 regulations are very specific that the mediation states must offer when a due process hearing has been requested is to be conducted by a single mediator. Team conciliation is offered not as a process that satisfies these requirements but rather as one of many options that may be useful, in addition to those that are legally required, when parents and educators disagree. Conciliation may be of particular value when those disagreements include issues of culture, gender or class bias. Additional information on this article is available from CADRE Director, Marshall Peter and Mediation Specialist, Anita Engiles.
Main Text
APPENDIX A: Job Descriptions
Functions:
* Convene conciliation teams
* Make all logistical arrangements (time and date, location, accessibility, attendance, equipment)
* Act as contact person for team members and disputants
* Be present to greet and welcome the parties when they arrive
* Contact parties at the time set to see if agreement has been followed
* Re-convene team if needed and desired by the parties
Knowledge:
* Understanding of the conciliation process
* Familiarity with potential conciliators' skills, styles and other personal characteristics
Skills:
* Ability to select among available conciliators to create a balanced and effective team which can assist parties to work constructively together and also provide opportunities for mutual support and learning among the team members
* Ability to manage the details of scheduling the attendance of the parties and team members
Experience:
* Any combination of life and work experience which results in the abilities and knowledge listed above
* Conciliation training and experience as a team conciliator would be helpful
Functions:
* Contact each party
* Educate parties about the conciliation process
--describe the team and the process
--explain role of conciliators and parties
--identify limitations as well as benefits of conciliation
--model the skills used in conciliation during interactions with the parties
* Ascertain whether problem is appropriate for conciliation
* Determine the appropriate parties to participate in conciliation
* If problem is appropriate for conciliation, encourage and support each party to use the process before proceeding to due process or litigation
* Gain commitment of each party to participate in conciliation
* Make referrals to other resources if needed
* Provide information about the parties and the problem to the team prior to the conciliation session
Knowledge:
* Understanding of the conciliation process
* Understanding of the options which parties have for resolving the problem>
* Understanding of the various ways that people respond to conflict
* Awareness of own responses to conflict>
Skills:
* Active listening skills
* Ability to communicate effectively with people who are very angry, hostile, belligerent, distrustful, discouraged
* Ability to gain trust of parties
* Ability to determine what the problem is
* Ability to assist parties to evaluate their goals and their options for achieving them to determine whether conciliation is an appropriate process for them
Experience:
* Any combination of life and work experience which results in the abilities and knowledge listed above, especially interviewing and working with people in crisis
* Conciliation training and experience as a team conciliator would be helpful
