Mentorshop – The Practicum
When you are ready to start your practicum, you will work with a mentor mediator. Mentor mediators have completed many hours of mediation casework and a course on Mentoring Others in Mediation.
First, you will observe two mediations. You can observe “live” mediations with a mentor mediator or you can attend an approved Video Observation class, facilitated by a mentor mediator, and receive credit for one or two observations. At the end of the observation/class, you will receive a Verification of Observation form from the mentor.
Before each co-mediation, the mentor will complete a Mentee Portfolio form for you, which outlines your learning objectives during a co-mediation and your progress in meeting those objectives. After the mediation is completed, the mentor will also complete a Mentee Evaluation form evaluating your specific mediation skills and abilities. The last page of the Mentee Evaluation is a page for you to evaluate your mentor.
For the General District Court (GDC) certification, you need to observe two cases and co-mediate 3 live cases for a total of 5 hours of mediation. You will also need to include an agreement that you wrote for one of your co-mediations.
For the Juvenile & Domestic Relations court (JDR) certification practicum, you will need to work with a mentor mediator and observe 2 mediations and co-mediate 5 live cases for a total of 10 hours. You will also need to include an agreement that you wrote for one of your co-mediations along with a child support worksheet.
For the Circuit Court-Civil (CCC) certification practicum you will need to do 2 observations and 5 co-mediations of live cases and include an agreement that you wrote from one of your co-mediations.
For the Circuit Court-Family (CCF) practicum you will need to do 2 observations and 5 co-mediations and you will need to include an agreement that you wrote from one of your co-mediations.