Green River Community College Mediation and Peace-Building Institute and the Dispute Resolution Center of King County have formed a partnership to provide mediation services and conflict resolution training to residents of south King County.

Under this new partnership, the Dispute Resolution Center of King County will offer a basic mediation training at GRCC’s Kent Campus on July 14, 15, 16, 23, 24. The 40-hour training meets the basic mediation training requirements for certification through the Washington Mediation Association. The training is useful for professionals seeking to learn mediation strategies for their professional and personal relationships.

Mediation is a confidential process facilitated by an impartial professional who helps people work together to resolve disagreements and find mutually acceptable and satisfying solutions. The Basic Mediation Training curriculum provides the foundation needed to handle conflicts between neighbors, landlord-tenants, employer-employees and other interpersonal conflicts. Participants will learn the facilitative mediation model used at community-based dispute resolution centers throughout the state and by many professional mediators in their private practice. Comprehensive case studies are used for role playing exercises so participants gain skills in managing highly-charged negotiations as a neutral third party.

Completion of the course qualifies participants to apply for the Dispute Resolution Center’s mentored Practicum. The course fee is $800, before June 30. There is a Special Neighbor Rate of $695 for Green River Community College district participants (people who reside or work in Auburn, Kent, Covington, Maple Valley or Enumclaw).

Learn about Scholarship opportunities and registration at www.kcdrc.org.