This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Every approved mediation program has to write down its own set of rules for how it operates day to day, and the Director has to review and approve them. This is meant to make sure programs run smoothly and consistently, even though each one can set up its own specific approach.
These written policies need to cover the whole process, from start to finish. That includes how the office handles things, how cases get referred to the program, and how staff make first contact with people involved in a dispute. It also covers how initial interviews are conducted before mediation begins.
The policies must also address training. Programs need to explain how they train mediators and other volunteers, and how they decide who gets assigned to which case or task. Beyond training and assignments, the rules must spell out how mediation sessions themselves are run.
Finally, programs need written procedures for reporting and follow-up. This means keeping track of what happened in cases and checking back afterward when needed. Having all of this in writing helps make sure people going through mediation know what to expect, and it helps the program stay accountable to the standards set by the Dispute Resolution Act.
