Florida is a home state to many residents who speak limited or no English. The need to provide language access in order for persons with limited English proficiency to access services, such as mediation, is prominent. Language access is much more than just providing written translation and oral interpretation. Beyond utilizing a certified, professional interpreter, a mediator needs to be equipped with knowledge of best practices to conduct an effective mediation. This presentation is offered to mediators who would like to gain knowledge about language access, interpreters' ethical rules and responsibilities, methods and challenges of interpretation, best practice tips when working with an interpreter in the mediation and suggestions for troubleshooting. "Click Here for Visual Material"

This highly interactive presentation will begin by defining a shared description of hybrid dispute resolution processes compared to Florida Supreme Court certified mediation processes. In so doing, we will clearly identify both the ethical dangers of blending processes, as well as the potential benefits to savvy business users who may choose from the array of dispute resolution processes available. Combining mediation and another dispute resolution process should be done in a clear and transparent way, and only when parties fully understand the process they are selecting. We will examine the most common hybrid processes including Med-Arb, Arb-Med, Special Masters, Private Judging, Conciliation, ENE, etc. We will also explore the use of multiple processes such as Grievance Procedures, Collaborative Law, and Ombuds. Lastly, we will look at informal hybrid processes and ethical issues which can arise when there are no clear process guidelines and mutual understanding of the process. We will explore the cultural contexts from which hybrid dispute resolution emerged and how it fits with what we do in the United States, as well as in Florida. We will explore aspects such as the adaptability of our field, cultural fit of dispute resolution processes, and how the process and the problem have an interactive relationship.We will also highlight the obvious disadvantages and cautions in the use of hybrid. Finally, consider the future of hybrid models in our increasingly global communities. Three Sentence Description:It takes two to tango, but when we use hybrid dispute resolution processes, mediation dances to its own beat. This interactive presentation will create a shared description of hybrid dispute resolution processes compared to Florida Supreme Court certified mediation. In so doing, we will clearly identify both the ethical dangers of the casual blending of processes, as well as the potential benefits to savvy business or international users who wish to jointly and artfully choose from the array of dispute resolution processes available.

As family mediators, we are often faced with information that "pops up" during the mediation that changes the landscape completely, for example, when the mediator learns there are other children born during a marriage who are not common to the parties; or the children have been raised by a third party who is not part of the mediation; or other crazy and interesting situations that, in the scheme of things, we call "life." This course will dig into the nuances of such challenging scenarios and determine the best responses mediators can appropriately and ethically provide. "Click Here for Visual Material"

Train The Trainer: Teaching County Court Mediation. This workshop will discuss " tried and true" techniques and strategies for effectively teaching County Court Mediation. Although geared toward County Court, many of the ideas, suggestions and strategies will be appropriate for all mediation trainers. This will be an interactive session, whereby trainers can share and learn from each other as well as from the presenter.