ACCORD, A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc warmly welcomed Dan Kos of the Unified Court System for a Continuing Education meeting in April. A huge thank you to Dan for coming to demonstrate the Standards of Conduct for New York State Community Dispute Resolution Center Mediators. We also thank all of our Mediators, new and seasoned, who joined us in our efforts to provide the best mediation services in Broome and Tioga Counties.
From the Standards of Conduct Manual sent to each of our mediators, you will find that “The Standards are intended to serve as a general framework for the practice of mediation and aim to:
- Educate mediators regarding current standards of practice;
- Guide mediators in their practice;
- Promote public confidence in mediation as a dispute resolution process; and
- Inform the mediation parties about the process.”
Let’s examine all of the Standards in order to assure quality mediations are always taking place during each and every session. We as Mediators in New York State must abide with the following to do so:
STANDARD I: SELF-DETERMINATION
Mediators must support party self-determination in both the process and outcome. This means that parties are able to make voluntary and uncoerced decisions.
STANDARD II: IMPARTIALITY
Mediators shall conduct themselves in a manner as to avoid the appearance of partiality or prejudice, even during a caucus.
STANDARD III: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Mediators shall avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest before, during, and after a mediation through disclosing the conflict or withdrawing from the process.
STANDARD IV: COMPETENCE
Mediators shall mediate with necessary competence to satisfy the reasonable expectations of the parties.
STANDARD V: CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality is upheld in every aspect of the process. Mediators will only communicate information with co-mediator, parties, and staff.
STANDARD VI: QUALITY OF THE PROCESS
Mediators shall conduct a quality process in accordance with these Standards of Conduct and adjacent ACCORD policy.
STANDARD VII: ADVERTISING AND SOLICITATION
Mediators shall be truthful and not misleading when communicating his or her qualifications, experience, and range of available services.
STANDARD VIII: RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE MEDIATION PROFESSION
Mediators shall act in a manner that enhances the growth and quality of the mediation profession.
For more information and to read the Standards of Conduct in it’s entirety, please feel free to access the Standards of Conduct for New York State Community Dispute Resolution Center Mediators here.
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