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. 

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. 

Questions? Email CMSCAmeriCorps@nysdra.org

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. 

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.

Questions? Email CMSCAmeriCorps@nysdra.org

Advanced Mediation Training with Chris Daly, Esq.

April 21 - 22, 2026

9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Both Days

Price: $975.00 (Scholarships Available)

Location: Brooklyn (Specific Location to be Provided after Registration)

In our Advanced Mediation Training, we go beyond the basics and take a deep dive into the trickiest parts of mediation. From suspending biases and crafting agenda, to breaking impasse and building consensus, this training will expand your comfort zone and tackle the most challenging aspects of mediation.

Through hands-on exercises, extensive role plays, group discussion, and of course movie clips and pop culture, our advanced training will build your mediator muscle memory. Whether you just completed your Basic Mediation Training, Apprenticeship, or have been doing mediation for years, this training provides an opportunity to receive focused coaching as you practice your craft in the company of experienced professionals.

New York Peace Institute's Director of Mediator Education & Quality Assurance, Chris Daly, Esq., will be leading this advanced training and will be joined by fellow staff members, Ayanna Behin Esq., NYPI's Director of Training & Conflict Consulting, and Rachel Bai, NYPI's Coordinator of Training & Conflict Consulting and NYPI Apprenticeship Mentor & Board Member, Barbara Goldstein Esq., LMSW. Extensive coaching and detailed feedback by the trainers will be provided to participants throughout the 2-day training. 

The only requirement to apply is that you have already taken an Initial Mediation Training (IMT). The course is appropriate for non-attorneys, newly admitted attorneys, and experienced attorneys. Please note that CLE is pending and scholarships are available for this training. Apply for the AMT here.

From Mediation to Policy Power: Advocacy Skills for CDRC Leaders with Bethany Snyder

April 28, 2026

Price: Free

Location: Virtually via Zoom

NYSDRA is pleased to offer From Mediation to Policy Power: Advocacy Skills for CDRC Leaders, an interactive training facilitated by Bethany Snyder of Snyder Strategies.

About the Training:

Community Dispute Resolution Centers play a vital role in strengthening communities and supporting the justice system. This training is designed to help CDRC leaders and staff build the skills needed to deepen policy engagement and expand the impact of their work.

The session focuses on how CDRCs can strengthen their voice in policy conversations and more effectively communicate the value of dispute resolution programs to policymakers and community leaders. Participants will explore practical advocacy strategies and approaches for building and sustaining relationships that support ADR programs over time.

This training is a strong follow‑up to Understanding the Structure of the New York State Unified Court System’s ADR Infrastructure presented by Dan Kos. Participants who attend this advocacy training are encouraged to attend Dan’s session first, as it provides helpful background and context for the discussions that follow.

This session will explore:

• The fundamentals of advocacy and how it differs from lobbying and education
• Strategies for engaging policymakers and other decision‑makers
• Ways to communicate the real‑world impact of dispute resolution programs
• Approaches for navigating advocacy conversations with confidence
• Techniques for strengthening relationships with courts and community partners

For questions or additional information, please contact toni@nysdra.org.

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. 

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.

Questions? Email CMSCAmeriCorps@nysdra.org

Initial Mediation Training with Chris Daly, Esq.

May 18–22, 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Each Day

Price: $1,695.00 (Scholarships Available)

Location: The Bronx Zoo

This training lays the groundwork for anyone interested in becoming a mediator and enhancing their conflict resolution skills. Applicants who complete this IMT are eligible to apply, and their applications are favored, for New York Peace Institute's Apprenticeship Program and joining our roster of volunteer community mediators.

During the IMT we explore questions like:

·    What is mediation and how does it compare to other forms of alternative dispute resolution?

·    What are the core skills I need to be an effective mediator?

·    What are the foundational values of mediation?

·    How can I identify and respond to power imbalances?

·    How can I identify and respond to different values, cultural norms, and biases?

·    What is my role as a mediator?

·    What are the best practices for online mediation?

·    What is a successful mediation?

Chris Daly, Esq. will be the lead trainer and will be joined by Rachel Bai, NYPI's Coordinator of Training & Conflict Consulting and other NYPI staff and coaches. The training will be interactive, and a variety of learning methods will be used including:

·    simulations

·    role plays

·    practice exercises

·    video clips

·    dedicated question and answer sessions

This 40-hour IMT is CDRC approved and also approved for the 24 hours of Initial Mediation Training 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, and 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.

CLE credit for the IMT will be offered pending approval - 34 Skills credits, 1.5 Ethics and Professionalism credits, and for experienced attorneys, 1 Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias credits. The course is appropriate for non-attorneys, newly admitted attorneys, and experienced attorneys.

Scholarships are available. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is April 12th, 2026, by no later than 11:59pm ET. Note that you don't have to register in full if you apply for a scholarship as we have spots on hold for scholarship recipients. However, scholarships are not guaranteed. If you do register in full and are accepted for a scholarship we may not be able to refund you the full amount. You can apply for a scholarship here or register for the Initial Mediation Training in full here.

Lemon Law Case Management Training with Samantha Adler

May 19, 2026 
12:00 - 2:00

Price: Free

*** Held Virtually via Teams ***

NYSDRA is pleased to offer Lemon Law Case Management Training, exclusively for Lemon Law case coordinators and CDRC staff.

Invites will be sent directly to the CDRC Lemon Law case coordinators directly via Teams!

About the Training: 

Join the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) for a comprehensive training designed specifically for CDRC Lemon Law Case Coordinators. This session will provide an overview of the Lemon Law case management process and offer practical guidance for effectively administering cases within your center.

During the training, participants will learn about key responsibilities involved in managing Lemon Law cases, including scheduling hearings, responding to questions from parties, properly closing cases, and completing vouchering. The session will also cover general program information, best practices, and common scenarios coordinators may encounter while supporting the Lemon Law arbitration process.

This training is intended to support both new and experienced coordinators by clarifying procedures and strengthening confidence in managing cases from start to finish.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain helpful insights to ensure smooth and consistent case administration across centers.

About the Trainer: 

Samantha Adler is a conflict resolution expert who now uses her expertise to lead trainings and keynotes on an array of subjects. She worked at New York Peace Institute, a NYC CDRC, for almost a decade, working her way up from a program assistant to a senior manager, in addition to leading their internship program and managing their CLM database. Sam has mediated hundreds of cases in Civil, Housing, Supreme and Family Courts, as well as community-based cases. She has her Master's Degree in Global Affairs and wrote her graduate thesis on unusual forms of international conflict resolution and diplomacy.

She runs two small businesses; Houseplant Concierge, helping plant parents like herself care for their plants and SEA Conflict Consulting, working with nonprofits and other businesses to resolve workplace conflict issues. She is a dog mom, competitive billiards player, and is learning figure skating and golf.

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. 

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. 

Questions? Email CMSCAmeriCorps@nysdra.org

Custody & Visitation Mediation Training with Duke Fisher

June 5-7, 2026 
1:00 - 5:30 June 5

9:00 - 5:30 June 6-7

Price: $200 for CDRC Volunteers - Free for The Resolution Center, Inc. Mediators

Held at The Resolution Center, Inc.

Watertown, NY

NYSDRA is pleased to offer Custody & Visitation Mediation Training at The Resolution Center, Inc. in Watertown, NY!

About the Training: 

Also known as Parenting Plan Mediation Training, this course prepares participants to mediate parenting disputes in a structured, neutral, and child-focused manner. When parents are contesting emotionally charged issues, such as visitation schedules or parenting time, mediators work to identify common ground and guide the development of practical parenting plans that both parties can live with. The training emphasizes mediation process, conflict dynamics, effective communication, and helping parents place their children’s best interests ahead of their relationship conflict.

About the Trainer: 

Duke Fisher has been a volunteer mediator since 1988.

The Unified Court System of New York State approached Duke in 1990 to become a New York State Certified Trainer of Mediation and assist with a special project bringing mediation and collaborative problem solving skills to “at risk” populations. He is the past Director of two Community Mediation Centers and has brought the process of mediation to thousands of individuals, businesses, schools, colleges, Bar Associations, Law Practices and communities throughout the United States. He is a straight talking, tireless advocate for respectful, collaborative conflict resolution and gets his point across through the use of wise cracks, good films, and experiential exercises known to encourage groups to have fun, take risks, and learn from each other. Please visit Duke's website, here.

To learn more about the training, click here.

To reserve your seat, please email Jen at: jhuttemann-kall@resolution-center.net