1. Managing Conflict to Improve Health Michigan's Premier Public Health Conference October 12, 2011 Hannalori Bates Frick The Dispute Resolution Center

2. Managing Conflict to Improve Health What is the DRC? How is its work connected to PRIME, health disparities and social determinants of health? What are the DRC's initiatives to address issues of health disparities and eliminating racism? What are the lessons learned and next steps?

3. What is the DRC? Mediation Defined Services provided Population served Location of Services Inclusive.Encourages disclosure.Empowers.Ensures privacy.

4. How is its work connected to PRIME, health disparities and social determinants of health? Conflict impacts people’s health, environment and social relationships Conflict management skills = effective communication and less stress Empowers community members to communicate their health needs effectively

5. Who do you talk to about your health? Medical professionals Business Owners School personnel Government Officials Family Members Friends Neighbors Landlord/Tenant Community Orgs Clients GOAL: To improve social cohesion and reduce stress

6. What are the successes of DRC initiatives? ObjectiveInitiative(s) To expand the mediator pool of the DRC to reflect the demography of its service area. Multi-cultural Mediator Training To increase the level of awareness of volunteer and staff personal sensitivities as well as cultural competence. Brown Bag Series Mediator Dialogues The Diversity Project To make the DRC more accessible to volunteers and clients from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds All Projects School Attendance Mediation Program To provide mediation and communication skills beyond the mediator community. Social Service Provider Curriculum Community Health Advocate Program Training Speak Peace West Willow Rally with County Sherriff

7. Diversity Project Invited 21 participants to 40-hour multi- cultural community mediator training for persons representing communities of color. Followed-up with a nationwide survey of community mediation programs Out of 44 centers, 20 offer diversity training to mediators and 15 offer training to staff 17 centers had assessed the multi- cultural needs of the community

8. Curriculum Conducted two focus groups with social service providers and clients to assess need for conflict management skills in social service settings where conflict involved diversity issues. Wrote curriculum for a two-day workshop to promote racial and ethnic understanding and teach conflict resolution skills to service providers. Conducted pilot workshop.

9. What are the lessons learned and next steps? Strong relationships with organizational partners and grantors are vital to maximize resources and capabilities of the grantees in order to meet the requirements of grants. No one effective model exists Working to further develop the curriculum for social workers and possible accreditation

10. Partners PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES FAITH ORGANIZATIONS NON-PROFITS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS SENIOR ORGANIZATIONS PARENTS GROUPS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS – ROTARY CLUB CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

11. For more information: The Dispute Resolution Center 110 North Fourth Avenue, Suite 100 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-222-3745 www.thedisputeresolutioncenter.org Hannalori: hannalori.bates.frick@gmail.com