Advanced Training for Divorce & Custody Mediators
Objective: To provide a valuable and enjoyable workshop for experienced Family Mediators that complies with the Pennsylvania Court Rule 1940.5 continuing education requirement. This six-hour agenda includes:
Recognizing Power Imbalance and Need for Empowerment in Mediation
Power imbalances create significant challenges. They are difficult to detect and more difficult to address. This training/workshop will look at defining and recognizing power imbalance and lack of power; screening for non-domestic violence power imbalances; problems power imbalances cause; handling power imbalances and lack of power in mediation; the role of attorneys where there are power imbalances and use of collaborative professionals where there are power imbalances.
Working With Attorneys in Family Mediation
In the past, mediators have wanted to do their work with lawyers in the background. This has often resulted in lawyers distrusting mediation. This workshop will present a protocol for working with lawyers as part of a team and inviting them to be part of the main act. The goal is more appreciation of mediation by attorneys and more appreciation of attorneys by mediators.
Pennsylvania Domestic Relations Legal Update
Recent changes in family law will be presented and discussed.
Trainers
Zena Zumeta is an attorney, mediator, trainer and facilitator. She works with organizations to assist them in helping their departments, work tea.m.s, and labor-management tea.m.s work together effectively and productively. A graduate of Smith College and the University of Michigan Law School, Zena has been a mediator since 1981, and attorney, trainer and labor negotiator since 1975, and has worked with organizations since 1971. Zena is a co-founder and past director of the Ann Arbor Mediation Center and is president of Mediation Training & Consultation Institute and The Collaborative Workplace.
Cheryl Cutrona has served as the Executive Director of Good Shepherd Mediation Program since 1991. She is a mediator, trainer, facilitator, conflict coach, writer and editor. She mediates for the PA Dept. of Education Office of Dispute Resolution, the Better Business Bureau, the Philadelphia Bar Association Lawyer Fee Disputes Program, and the U.S. Postal Service. Ms. Cutrona holds a B.A. from Michigan State University, a Masters in Library Science from Wayne State University, and a J.D. from Beasley School of Law at Temple University, where she teaches Mediation Advocacy and Practice, ADR and the Domestic Relations Mediation Clinical. Ms Cutrona is the Recipient of the 2008 PA Bar Association ADR Committee Sir Francis Bacon Award and the PA Council of Mediators 2010 Most Valuable Peacemaker Award.
