The Connecticut Council for Divorce Mediation has established a Mentor Program for members of CCDM. The program has experienced mediators help less experienced mediators become more skilled practitioners and build their practice.

The mentor will provide the mentee with an overview of mediation including how a practice is organized, marketed and the essential skills of a mediator. Mentors will provide mentees with practice tips and practical advice not found in books. At a minimum, the mentors will be available to share his or her experiences and to be available to answer the mentees questions. The mentor may also have the mentee participate in a mentor’s mediation. The mentor may also supervise the mentee’s mediation with a discussion before and after the mediation. The participants will mutually agree on the actual amount of time they will meet and establish goals for the mentoring. We hope that it will be a continuing and symbiotic relationship. There is no charge or fees for this program.

There is a mentors listserv for mentors who want help from other mentors. When a mentor applies he or she should indicate if you want to be included. To post a message a mentor emails CCDM-mentors@yahoogroups.com.

Mentors and mentees must have completed the basic mediation training. Mentors should have mediated longer than the mentee and have conducted more mediations than the mentee. The participants will indicate if they are interested in interdisciplinary mentoring. Mentors and mentees will participate, as time allows, in a one hour training session presented by CCDM. The mentee must read CCDM’s Standards of Practice. Both the mentor and mentee must maintain malpractice insurance that covers the mentor relationship. The mentor must obtain a written authorization from the mediating couple for the mentee to participate in a mediation.

In the event that either the mentor or mentee is not happy with the arrangement, they contact the CCDM Mentoring Committee to terminate the mentoring.

The mentor/mentee will complete an evaluation at the end of the mentoring or one year.

There will be an annual recognition of mentors/mentees at a CCDM meeting. Mentors who have completed the CCDM’s mentor training and have been a mentor for a year will be given a recognition award and may hold themselves out as Mentor Mediators of CCDM.

CCDM members who have any questions or wish to participate in the program must complete and submit an application to CCDM by mail, email or FAX at the address shown on the Application. Based on the person’s response to the application, the CCDM Mentor Committee will match up mentors and mentees.

Disclaimer: The CCDM has developed the aforementioned Mentoring Program as a means of assisting interested mentees in locating mentors. The CCDM's role in the process is limited to collecting information submitted by interested mentors/mentees and distributing that information to others wishing to utilize the program. The CCDM does not verify the qualifications of the mentors made available through this matching program nor does it verify the information submitted by applicants. Accordingly, the CCDM makes no representations about the qualifications of any particular mentor, nor does it endorse any mentor or his or her abilities. By utilizing this program, each prospective mentor and mentee represents that his or her statements regarding his or her qualifications and experience are accurate and accepts responsibility for obtaining insurance appropriate to the role he or she wishes to play in the program.

Click for a PDF version of this information, plus a printable application form.