The Center for Dispute Resolution

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The Center for Dispute Resolution (CDR) is located on the campus of Missouri State University in the Department of Communication.  The CDR provides services and supports programs that help people take control of their lives. In a world where conflict often dictates distrust, stifles communication, and leads to costly and contentious legal remedies, we support alternatives.

The CDR provides and supports several services and programs:

• Basic and Advanced Mediation Trainings
• Presentations, Workshops, and Consultations
• Facilitation Services
• Certificate Programs in Conflict and Dispute Resolution
• Mediation Referrals and Services
• Victim-Offender Mediation Programs
• Educational/Research Services
• Community Programs

Mediation Training

One of the services the CDR provides is civil and family mediation training. This interactive training covers a variety of topics and meets the Missouri Supreme Court Rules for civil and family mediators.

The CDR also offers advanced mediation training as well as other specialized training. Past training topics have included parenting coordination, victim-offender mediation, construction mediation, and more.

Presentations, Workshops, and Consultations

The CDR offers on-site lectures and workshops on a variety of conflict, communication, and dispute resolution topics for area businesses and organizations. These lectures/workshops are tailored to meet the specific needs of the group and are ideal for businesses, non-profits, neighborhood associations, churches, membership/volunteer organizations, or any other group that wishes to address a specific communication or conflict topic. The CDR also offers program-development support for communities in areas such as victim-offender mediation.

Facilitation Services

The CDR helps facilitate meetings, discussions, and strategic planning sessions for business and organizations.

Educational/Research Services

The CDR serves as a research laboratory for university faculty and for students enrolled in the Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate programs in Conflict and Dispute Resolution. Additionally, the CDR provides and/or supports a variety of conflict and mediation programs for organizations in the Ozarks area. The CDR also maintains an extensive library of materials on dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration. The collection of materials includes books, journals, articles, pamphlets, and videos.

Mediation Referrals and Services

The CDR makes mediation referrals to local mediators and also provides mediation services in specialized cases.

Victim-Offender Mediation

The CDR administers victim-offender mediation programs for the Greene County Juvenile Division and for the Greene County Prosecutor's Office. It also plays an active role in the Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition.

Community Program Support

The CDR supports a variety of community programs related to conflict and dispute resolution. These resources and services include conflict workshops for parents and for their children, mediation services, conflict intervention support, and conflict consultation services.

About this Site

Our site offers several features, including information on our mediator training and customized workshops as well as an "Ask the Conflict Expert" form that allows you to get personalized answers to your toughest conflict questions.

We also have a section of links to legal information, which answers some common questions people ask when they call the Center for information about their rights and options. There is also a section of links to other conflict resolution resources and a variety of web sites devoted to conflict and mediation.

We also provide mediation referrals and offer specialized mediation services.

While you're here, be sure to check out the latest news on our upcoming events and training sessions.

Finally, if you have questions that this site doesn't answer, please call us at (417) 836-8831 or complete an information request form so we can send you the information you need.