Events & Trainings

CMSC Training: Custody & Visitation Mediation

April 13-17, 2026

Price: Free

*** Held Virtually via Zoom ***

NYSDRA is pleased to offer Custody & Visitation Mediation, an important CMSC training presented as part of our Community Mediation Service Corps AmeriCorps program. This training prepares participants to work more effectively with some of the most sensitive and high-stakes conflicts in mediation practice—those involving families, parenting, and the well-being of children. 

This training is free to attend. AmeriCorps members receive priority registration, and remaining seats may be made available to members of the statewide CDRC network. To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

About the Training: 

This 21-hour, Part 146–approved training is led by Karen Carroll, Esq. and is designed to build the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence needed to mediate complex co-parenting and family-related disputes. Through seven highly interactive modules, participants will engage in instruction, small- and large-group discussion, reflective exercises, and multiple live roleplays that bring the material to life. 

Participants will explore: 

• The nature and dynamics of custody and access mediation 
• Parenting worldviews and how personal values shape assumptions 
• Family court processes and key NYS law and terminology 
• Reporting responsibilities related to child abuse and maltreatment 
• Drafting effective, durable agreements 
• Power, control, and violence within family systems 
• Real-world ethical challenges in family mediation practice 

Modules can be adapted to participant needs, creating a dynamic learning environment appropriate for both newer and more experienced practitioners. 

About the Trainer: 

Karen Carroll, Esq. brings more than 30 years of experience as a mediator, facilitator, and manager of court-aligned mediation programs. She currently manages family mediation programming for the Center for Resolution and Justice of Western New York and previously served as a statewide Deputy Manager for the NYS Family Court Child Welfare Improvement Project. Her extensive experience in custody mediation, family law, and court-community collaboration informs her highly-regarded training approach. 

To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

Long Island Dispute Resolution Center Basic Mediation Training

April 20-24, 2026

9AM - 4PM (1 Hour Lunch)

Price: $1,475.00

*** Held Virtually via Zoom Events ***

About the Training:

Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers’ (LIDRC) Basic Mediation Training provides participants with an overview of the skills and knowledge related to the practice of facilitative mediation. The course content incorporates foundational principles of conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation. After completing the Basic Mediation Training, participants are eligible to apply for Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers’ Mediator Apprenticeship program.

• Twelve participants maximum are enrolled to ensure high levels of participation and quality.
• There are no prerequisites to attending this training, and the content is designed for both attorneys and non-attorneys.
• To register for the training, please click here.
• Please complete the waitlist form if the training is at capacity.

About LIDRC:

Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers seek to resolve conflicts in Nassau and Suffolk counties by offering dispute resolution services from trained professionals who guide individuals, families, or entities in a peaceful, neutral, and confidential manner to develop mutually acceptable resolutions to a wide variety of disputes.

About the LIDRC Training Institute:

The Training Institute at both Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers offers programming to enhance the skills and knowledge of our mediators and those interested in conflict resolution to support the communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties. In addition, the Training Institute provides an Apprenticeship Program, where mediator apprentices gain experience working on actual cases under supervision and receive practical feedback to improve their mediation skills.

This training is approved by the New York State Unified Court System’s Office of ADR Programs under Part 146.

• Final placement on any court roster is at the discretion of the local Administrative Judge; 
• Participation in a course does not guarantee placement on a local court roster; 
• Some courts may require additional training and experience beyond Part 146’s requirements; 
• Acceptance on court rosters may depend on a court’s need for mediators at any given time and may include a particular court’s need for mediators with specific case-type training or experience. 

For more information and to register for the training, please click here.

CMSC Training: ADR Infrastructure Overview with Daniel Kos

April 21, 2026

Price: Free

*** Held Virtually via Zoom ***

NYSDRA is pleased to offer The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Infrastructure Overview, an important CMSC training presented as part of our Community Mediation Service Corps AmeriCorps program. 

 
This training is free to attend. AmeriCorps members receive priority registration; remaining seats may be offered to the statewide CDRC network. To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

About the Training: 

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Infrastructure Overview provides a clear, accessible understanding of how the New York State Unified Court System’s ADR landscape is structured. As the ADR system has rapidly evolved, CDRC staff and AmeriCorps members benefit greatly from knowing how decision-making, collaboration, mandates, and resources flow throughout the system. 

This session explains: 

• The roles and responsibilities of key personnel within the UCS 
• How committees, working groups, and leadership bodies operate 
• Where CDRCs fit within the statewide ADR framework 
• Ways mediation programs can align more effectively with court expectations 
• Opportunities for strengthening collaboration between CDRCs and the courts 

This foundational knowledge helps AmeriCorps members better understand the environment in which community mediation programs operate and strengthens their overall systems awareness. 

To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

CMSC Training: Anti-Bias Training with Courtney Chicvak 

May 7–8, 2026 
1:00–4:00 PM Each Day

Price: Free

*** Held Virtually via Zoom ***

NYSDRA is pleased to offer Anti-Bias Training, an important CMSC training presented as part of our Community Mediation Service Corps AmeriCorps program. 

This training is free to attend. AmeriCorps members receive priority registration; remaining seats may be offered to the statewide CDRC network. To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

About the Training: 

This Anti-Bias Training is a highly interactive, experiential six-hour program designed to build awareness, strengthen communication across differences, and support practitioners in facilitating inclusive, culturally responsive processes. 

This training creates a reflective environment where participants explore: 

• Implicit bias and its impact on conflict 
• Identity, lived experience, and perception 
• The role of bias on influencing communication and decision-making 
• Tools for interrupting bias in mediation and day-to-day interactions 
• Strategies that foster equitable, inclusive dialogue in the mediation room 

Small group work, guided reflection, and meaningful group conversations help participants deepen their understanding of themselves and others while strengthening their skills as mediators and service providers. 

About the Trainer: 

Courtney Chicvak, Director of ADR Training & Development at the Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers, is a highly skilled mediator and trainer known for her work in conflict resolution, cultural responsiveness, and experiential learning design. Her facilitation style emphasizes reflection, dialogue, and real-world skills that strengthen community mediation practice.



To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here.

CMSC Training: Trauma-Informed Practices (Part 1 & 2) with Amber Russell 

Part 1: May 22, 2026 — 1:00–3:00 PM 
Part 2: July 10, 2026 — 1:00–3:00 PM 

Price: Free

*** Held Virtually via Zoom ***

NYSDRA is pleased to offer Trauma-Informed Practices (Part 1 & 2), an important CMSC training presented as part of our Community Mediation Service Corps AmeriCorps program. 

 
This training is free to attend. AmeriCorps members receive priority registration; remaining seats may be offered to the statewide CDRC network. To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here. 

About the Training:

This two-part series provides AmeriCorps members with a strong foundation in trauma-informed practices, guiding participants in understanding how trauma affects individuals, communication, and conflict. 

Topics include: 

• Core principles of trauma-informed practice 
• Common trauma responses and how they appear in mediation 
• Techniques that support safety, empowerment, and transparency 
• Small group work with real-world “sticky situations” 
• Opportunities for reflection and skill building 

Part 2 (scheduled 45–60 days after Part 1) gives participants time to apply skills learned in the first session, then return for deeper practice and discussion. 

Training is interactive and practice-focused to ensure participants walk away with concrete tools for their ADR work. 

About the Trainer: 

Amber Russell is a seasoned mediator and mediator trainer with more than 15 years of experience in the CDRC network. She currently serves as the Statewide Director of the NYS Agricultural Mediation Program and specializes in trauma-informed, inclusive ADR practices. Amber has designed and led numerous statewide trainings and brings a practitioner-centered approach that resonates with both new and experienced mediators. 

To request to be added to the waitlist, please click here.