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Volunteer Mediator FAQ
(click on questions)

What is the CMC's working definition of mediation?

What kind of cases do CMC volunteers mediate?

Who are the CMC mediators?

Why does CMC use the co-mediation model?

What is the commitment for being a volunteer mediator?

Do volunteers work with the Community Mediation Center in ways other than being mediators?

Can I become a Rule 31 mediator by taking CMC's basic volunteer mediator training?

If I am a Rule 31 mediator, can I volunteer for CMC?

What is the CMC's Volunteer Mediation Mentor Program?

Can a mediator talk to anyone about what happens in mediation?

When is the next CMC basic mediation training?

How do I apply to be a volunteer mediator?

What is the CMC's working definition of mediation?

Mediation is a process that helps people resolve their own disputes to their mutual satisfaction in a voluntary and informed way. Two volunteer mediators, called co-mediators, are impartial between the parties and committed to mediating a fair, informed, confidential and honest process.

What kind of cases do CMC volunteers mediate?

CMC receives referrals to mediate from Knox County courts, primarily Knox County General Sessions Court, both Civil and Criminal, and from Knox County Juvenile Court. We also accept referrals from individual disputants, schools, law enforcement, social service agencies, hospitals, small businesses, neighborhood organizations, nonprofit agencies and organizations. Our programs are more fully described here.

Who are the CMC mediators?

Currently, CMC has over 50 active volunteer mediators who mediate from once a week to once a month. Our mediators come from all walks of life: stay-at-home moms and dads, retired university professors, school counselors and teachers, attorneys and law students, social workers, therapists, nurses, middle and high school students, to name just a few.

Why does CMC use the co-mediation model?

Over 85% of community mediation centers nationwide use the co-mediation model. This model is a wonderful way for volunteers to become comfortable with the process and to feel like they have a partner with whom they can discuss otherwise confidential matters. Co-mediators can also subtly demonstrate cooperative and respectful behaviors for the disputants. For instance, CMC tries to pair male and female mediators when possible, to help balance "power" in divorce and parenting mediations where male-female relationships are at issue.

What is the commitment for being a volunteer mediator?

A volunteer mediator must undergo a rigorous 30 hr training, usually held over two weekends, covering the basics of conflict resolution principles, our 6-step facilitative mediation model, an introduction to our referring courts and forms used in each forum, and participation in mediation simulations. After completing the training, a mediator must then become a part of our Mediation Mentoring Program. The training is currently $30--the cost of materials. The volunteer's real cost is her contractual commitment to serve as a CMC mediator for one year.

General Sessions Court mediators agree to mediate downtown at Sessions Court on specific days beginning at 8:30am.
Juvenile Court mediations are generally scheduled Monday-Thursday evenings, from 6:00pm - 9:00pm, at the Division St. Juvenile Court Annex. As a rule, mediations take anywhere from 1 hr to 3 hrs, and may be "continued" to another session.

Do volunteers work with the Community Mediation Center in ways other than being mediators?

Yes, some of our mediators serve on the CMC Board. Volunteers do most of the interviewing and screening of new volunteers. Still others are involved in updating our training materials. Many of the volunteers will be coaches during the training sessions. While it is not required, we hope many of our new volunteers are able to make similar contributions. Here are some opportunities to get involved.

Can I become a Rule 31 mediator by taking CMC's basic volunteer mediator training?

No. The CMC training is slightly different from Rule 31 family or civil mediation training. Under the controlling Tennessee Supreme Court rule, the Rule 31 mediator must receive 40+ hrs of approved basic training, usually costing $1000-$2000, must submit and be approved by the Tennessee ADR Commission, must pay an annual fee to be "listed" as a Rule 31 mediator, and must also take 12 hours of continuing mediation education (CME) each year. CMC trains its mediators to use the co-mediation model, while Rule 31 mediators are usually trained to mediate solo.

Although CMC's basic training is equivalent to all but 16 hrs of Rule 31 basic training, we do not yet offer a "bridge" training for our volunteers who otherwise qualify to be Rule 31 mediators.

If I am a Rule 31 mediator, can I volunteer for CMC?

We encourage Rule 31 mediators to become CMC volunteers. It's a wonderful way to give back to the community and also get what's most necessary to improve professional skills: practice, practice, practice! Rule 31 mediators need to take a short (approximately 8-12 hr training) after observing a mediation and debriefing with staff or board trainers. This "bridge" training will focus on: the CMC 6-step empowerment community mediation model; co-mediation; and specific court forms we use in General Sessions and Juvenile Courts. The new volunteer will then observe and co-mediate with senior mediators.

Please call or email and ask about when these "bridge" trainings are scheduled.

How do I apply to be a volunteer mediator?

Please fill out our application for basic training or Rule 31-to-volunteer training. You can fill out an application online or by downloading and faxing or snail-mailing it to us.

Also remember, we receive many more applicants than we can accommodate in our training class. We defer some of those applicants to our next class. Also we have learned than many wonderful people do not necessarily make successful neutral mediators, so applicants will be interviewed by staff and assessed for the program.

Can a mediator talk to anyone about what happens in mediation?

The mediators can talk about NOTHING that happened in the specific mediation they participated in. Mediation is a confidential process; everything said and every note taken in mediation is confidential between the mediators and the parties (and their agents). By agreement, the mediator is free to discuss the specifics of a mediation with CMC staff and with his or her co-mediator. Confidentiality is one of THE most important features of mediation. Our ethical rules require that we honor confidences. Mental health workers, attorneys, and medical health staff abide by requirements for confidentiality. Volunteer mediators do also.

Parties understand that information about harm to a child, elder, or disabled person must be disclosed by law. CMC mediators receive training in how to handle such situations in a careful, safe way.

When is the next CMC basic mediation training?

We normally offer two basic training sessions each year. Our mid-winter training is a special collaboration with the UT College of Law Mediation Clinic, combining our community trainees with second and third year law students.

Please watch our website for announcements or check with us about the dates for our next basic training.

Our next training is: Friday, Jan. 25, 4pm-9pm; Saturday, Jan. 26, 9am-6pm; Friday, Feb. 1, 4pm-9pm; and Satuday, Feb. 2, 9am-6pm (Four days, one training) at UT College of Law.