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 General Information About the Commission
Cutting across political, economic, and social boundaries, the Commission has pioneered problem-solving methods and initiated programs that provide alternatives to fighting, impasse, and litigation. Through its accomplishments, the Commission has gained recognition as the most comprehensive state dispute resolution program in the country.
Created by legislation in 1989, the Commission consists of twelve volunteer members appointed by all three branches of state government -- the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, the President of the Ohio Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. With a broad mandate to serve individuals and organizations at multiple levels of society and joint representation from all the branches of government, the Commission is in the forefront of a national movement to promote the use of dispute resolution process and conflict management skills.
Why are new methods for resolving disputes needed?
Most people are familiar with the traditional means of resolving disputes by avoidance, violence or litigation. Avoiding the problem may put it off, but seldom resolves it. Violence creates disruption that often goes beyond the immediate participants to affect the larger society. Litigation is an important and valuable process, however, many disputes can be resolved by less adversarial means. Schools, courts, communities, and government agencies need to have a variety of approaches at their disposal to address conflict. They need to be able to assist individuals and groups not only in resolving their disputes, but in learning new ways of managing conflicts. What are these new methods? Conflict management teaches individuals concepts and skills for preventing, managing and resolving conflicts. Dispute resolution encompasses a spectrum of skills and processes, ranging from direct negotiation among parties to intervention of an impartial third party skilled in problem-solving. Some of the processes, such as mediation, are more informal and are designed to help the parties develop their own solutions. Other more formal processes, such as arbitration, may give an outside third party authority to impose binding solutions on the disputing parties.
How does the Commission work?
With a small skilled staff of dispute resolution and conflict management experts, the Commission acts as teacher, catalyst, consultant, collaborator, trainer, and evaluator. Its mission is to disseminate information about positive ways to manage conflict, resolve disputes, and build foundations upon which these approaches can become part of our social institutions and our individual lives. The Commission focuses its efforts in four primary areas across Ohio's schools, courts, communities, and government.
The Commission works with a multitude of individuals and organizations to increase knowledge and use of dispute resolution techniques and to provide assistance in managing conflicts. Some of the avenues by which the Commission performs these services are listed below.
Training and Education - The Commission presents hundreds of hours of informational seminars and training workshops. In addition, the Commission maintains a resource center with publications, videotapes, and other materials about dispute resolution and conflict management.
Pilot Projects - In partnership with schools, courts, community groups, and state and local government officials, the Commission initiates pilot demonstration programs. It evaluates these programs to determine the best methods for implementing the use of dispute resolution techniques in various settings and circumstances.
Mediation and Facilitation Casework and Referrals - These services are provided for state and local government officials and agencies who are seeking assistance to resolve conflicts.
Commission Program Areas
Schools K-12/Higher Education:
The Commission provides training, resources and technical assistance to
Ohio's primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities to assist
them in their design of a comprehensive conflict management program. Ohio
currently leads the nation in statewide programming in conflict resolution
education. Between 1990 and 2004 the number of school districts
with conflict management programs grew from 30 to more than 400 (Ohio
has 612 school districts) reporting some form of a conflict management
program. While in 1993 there were a mere 208 schools that reported having
a conflict management program, in 2004 there are more than 1,700 schools
with programs. During the 2002-2003 biennium the Commission served
more 95,000 students and over 7,000 staff through its grant program.
Faculty at Ohio's colleges and universities are invited to take part in
the Commission's Annual Conflict Resolution Education Higher Education
Institute, the only one of its kind in the United States. Over the
last five years, 36 Ohio colleges and universities have participated
with the objective of integrating conflict management into the curriculum
for new teachers.
Communities and Courts: The Commission works with court and community organizations to encourage and support the growth of programs throughout Ohio that provide conflict resolution services to neighbors, local businesses and consumers, and local governments and citizens. The Commission wants Ohioís citizens to have the opportunity to learn about effective ways to manage conflict and to be able to have a variety of dispute resolution options available.
Government: Commission staff provides training and consultation throughout state government in various agencies. Facilitation and mediation services are also available. The focus of these services is to increase the use conflict management in both internal and external operations. The Commission, in partnership with several organizations, has developed a program to train local government officials in problem solving and conflict management skills. It assists in resolving disputes among local government bodies or officials throughout the state.
What can the Commission do for you?
The Commission is a resource for Ohio citizens interested in learning more about dispute resolution and conflict management as well as how to implement programs in their schools, courts, communities, and state and local government agencies. The Commission can assist interested parties by providing:
 Information about education and training programs, including consumer guides.
Materials, consultation and technical assistance for starting school, community or governmental conflict resolution programs.
Training for state agencies.
Speakers and presentations on dispute resolution and conflict management.
Information about where to get assistance in resolving conflicts or disputes.
Manuals, reports, and videotapes for designing, implementing and evaluating conflict resolution programs.
Commissioners
& Staff
Commissioners
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Ron L. Rimelspach, Chair
Dan DeStephen, Secretary
Carol Bowshier
Robert R. Cupp
Norman Dewire
Robert E. Hickey Jr.
Tina L. Kandakai
William S. Newcomb, Jr.
Gloria A. Osburn
Richard A. Ross
Steven Moore
Merle Grace Kearns
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