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Background | Statutory Responsibilities | Staff | Funding | Partnerships | OCP Statement on Impartiality
Background
In 2003 the Oregon Legislature transferred to the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University the functions of the former Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission (ODRC) relating to assisting public agencies to incorporate alternative dispute resolution practices. The Hatfield School established the Oregon Consensus Program (OCP) within the National Policy Consensus Center to carry out these functions.
The ODRC was created by statute in 1989 and had initiated a Public Policy Dispute Resolution Program (PPDRP) shortly after it was formed with the assistance of a grant from the National Institute for Dispute Resolution. From 1990 to 2003 the PPDRP helped resolve hundreds of complex and difficult public policy controversies.
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Statutory Responsibilities
Provide mediation and other ADR services to public bodies and their constituents SB 247 enacted in 2005 (in section 11) clarified that the Hatfield School was to "establish and operate a program to provide mediation and other alternative dispute resolution services to public bodies and to persons who have disputes with public bodies" throughout Oregon.
Consult with State Agencies and Department of Justice on the use of ADR
ORS 183.502 provides for state agencies to consult with the Hatfield School (OCP) on developing a policy or program for implementation of alternative means of dispute resolution and for the Department of Justice to consult with OCP on developing for agencies model rules for implementation of alternative means of dispute resolution.
Collaborate to increase the use of alternative dispute resolution to resolve disputes involving the State of Oregon
ORS 183.502 requires the OCP to collaborate with the Department of Justice, the Department of Administrative Services and the Governor to increase the use of alternative dispute resolution to resolve disputes involving the State of Oregon.
Consult on rules relating to mediation and arbitration of disputes over archaeological permits and disposition of human skeletal remains or burial goods.
Pursuant to ORS 390.240 the OCP consults with the State Parks and Recreation Commission and the governing bodies of the Oregon Indian Tribes on rules related to mediation and arbitration of such disputes.
Consult with Agriculture Department on Farm Mediation
The Department of Agriculture is required under ORS 21.480(5) to consult with the OCP in establishing and operating mediation programs funded under that statute, which do not include individual farm credit mediations.
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Staff
Click here for Staff Profiles
The Oregon Consensus Program is staffed by its Director, R. Elaine Hallmark, Program Coordinator Cat McGinnis and several Program Managers. Elaine is a long time mediator and facilitator of public policy agreement seeking processes. She provides limited direct services on our projects, usually in the initial stages of determining whether a process is suitable for a particular process. She also provides mentoring and coaching of the neutrals working with the Program, and provides training for potential participants in collaborative processes.
OCP is hosted within the National Policy Consensus Center (NPCC)and the two programs share some staff functions. NPCC Director, Greg Wolf, works with Elaine on certain projects.
The OCP uses private neutrals to carry out the bulk of the services it provides. These neutrals are experienced and trained in the particular fields being addressed, meet certain standards and have developed an agreement to work with the program for purposes of quality control and case evaluation. For more on the OCP roster of mediators click here.
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Funding
The Oregon Consensus Program is partially funded by the Oregon State Legislature. Additional funding comes from fees for services, agreements with agencies, foundation grants, and contributions from parties involved in various processes.
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Partnerships
The Oregon Consensus Program works in partnership with others to increase the use and effectiveness of collaborative approaches to public issues. Some of our partners have included:
National Policy Consensus Center - to develop and pilot collaborative models that may be used in other states. The NPCC has an agreement with the US Council on Environmental Quality to assist in bringing Federal parties to the table in collaborative processes and with the Governors of Oregon and Washington to assist in bringing state agencies into collaborative processes.
US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution - to initiate collaborative processes in Oregon around environmental issues that involve both state and federal agencies, tribal governments and Oregon citizens or other interest groups.
Oregon Solutions - to assess the potential for collaborative approaches to sustainable projects in communities.
Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University - to make effective use of neutral science or other technical information in collaborative processes around difficult natural resource and environmental issues.
Eastern Oregon University - to create a virtual Rural/Urban Solutions Center that will address problems across the "divide". More
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OCP Statement on Impartiality
Our mission requires us to assist all parties in resolving disputes around public issues or public decisions in a non-adversarial, collaborative process. We are therefore, committed to being impartial and fair to each party engaged in the conflict, regardless of who has requested or initiated our services. We are non-partisan and maintain the Program's independence from external influences that might bear on the professional judgment and performance of our staff and qualified contractors. We fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest, prohibit any improper influence and protect the confidentiality of the parties with whom we are working.
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