By Dr. Charlene Berquist, Director, and Heather Blades, Associate Director
The Center for Dispute Resolution (CDR) regularly provides customized presentations, workshops, and trainings on communication and conflict management in a variety of contexts for a host of different audiences. This fall included several ongoing and new partnerships and offerings.
City of Springfield Supervisors’ Training Series
Since 2015 the CDR has developed and offered training sessions for supervisors working for the City of Springfield as part of a contract with the city. These sessions are continuing in the spring of 2020.
Session formats vary and range from 1-hour “lunch and learns” to half-day and full-day workshops. All sessions are designed for the diverse range of professionals working within the city and focus on strengthening the communication and conflict management skills of these professionals. Training topics range from providing effective feedback, to coaching employees through conflict, to everyday negotiation skills for supervisors, and beyond.
GO CAPS Workshops – Thanks for the Feedback
This October the CDR provided training on how to receive feedback effectively for high school students taking part in the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS) program. In this unique year-long experience high school juniors and seniors “test drive” future career options and develop real-world professional skills as they are embedded in partner businesses.
The training focused on helping students develop the vital job skill of processing the feedback they receive, with an emphasis on overcoming defensiveness and asking effective questions to make the most of feedback at work and beyond. Through a total of four 2.5-hour workshops the CDR provided this training to over 160 GO CAPS students.
Girl Scouts of the Heartland – Conflict Training
In late October the CDR provided customized training for the Girl Scouts of the Heartland. This day-long communication and conflict management training for Girl Scouts staff focused on the causes and dynamics of conflict, conflict styles, listening skills, de-escalating emotions, and strategies for managing conflicts with volunteers and parents. The CDR was pleased to partner with Girl Scouts of the Heartland to further their mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”
Family Group Conferencing Training for the Seventh Judicial Circuit
In September CDR Director Dr. Charlene Berquist and Associate Director Heather Blades traveled to Liberty, MO, to offer a 2-day Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Training for professionals and volunteers in the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Family group conferences bring a family together with their relatives, friends, and other supportive people in their lives. Facilitators empower the family to develop a plan to address a challenging issue or support a family member who is facing challenges or difficulties. Outside agencies (such as the school system, the Juvenile Court, or others) may provide information on things that the family should address in their plan, but it is up to the family to decide the best way to support the struggling individual(s) in achieving their goals.
This training, funded by a Title II federal grant award to Clay County, helped professionals in the area explore the ways in which the FGC process can be used to help address truancy, substance abuse, juvenile offending, family conflict, and other challenging family issues.
Missouri Public Health Association Annual Conference Workshop
On September 24th the CDR provided a 3-hour workshop for attendees at the Missouri Public Health Association’s annual conference in Columbia, MO.
This conference brought together public health professionals from across the state. The CDR’s interactive workshop, led by CDR Director Dr. Charlene Berquist and Associate Director Heather Blades, focused on how professionals in the public health field can better understand and manage the conflicts they experience in their work. Over 60 professionals attended this pre-conference workshop to build their conflict management and communication skills.
For More Information, or to Schedule Customized Training
Customized training, workshops, and presentations can vary from one hour to several days based on the needs and goals of participants and may focus on a variety of topics related to communication and conflict management. For more information on the CDR’s on-demand workshops or customized trainings, including a sampling of topics, please visit the CDR’s website, or call 417-836-8831 or email CDR@MissouriState.edu.