About the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators
MEMBERS OF PCM
Members of PCM come from all aspects of the dispute resolution field. They include
administrators and volunteers at community mediation centers; mediators and facilitators
who work with corporate and government clients; attorneys who offer mediation as
an option to clients engaged in disputes about issues ranging from custody to business
contracts; administrators of programs offering specialized dispute resolution services,
such as special education mediation; and people involved in research on conflict
management.
PCM'S ROLE IN THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION FIELD
A History of Accomplishments
In 1993 PCM partnered with the Pennsylvania Bar Association to develop and pass
legislation granting mediators a confidentiality privilege comparable to that enjoyed
by social workers, clergy and psychiatrists. This was an important step in protecting
a cornerstone of the mediation process.
PCM has led the discussion on credentialing for mediators in Pennsylvania. With
both a national debate on the merits and cautions on this issue, as well as the increasing
appearance of definitions of 3mediation2 in legislation and court rules, PCM has
hosted dialogue among interested stakeholders in the field and developed its own
voluntary guidelines on credentialing,
best practices and ethics.
Plans for the Future
PCM will continue to monitor legislative initiatives and collaborate with the
Pennsylvania Bar and other conflict resolution organizations seeking ways to make
Pennsylvania more hospitable to mediation as a way of resolving disputes.
ORGANIZATION and STRUCTURE
The Pennsylvania Council of Mediators (PCM) brings together individuals from across
the state who share a common interest in mediation as an alternative form of dispute
resolution. The goals of PCM are to promote mediation through advocacy and education,
develop state-wide policies favorable to mediation, and function as a network for
information and skills sharing. The work of PCM is carried out by standing and ad
hoc committees, with overall policy and direction set by a board of directors.
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