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Press Release  Thirty Probate & Family Probation Officers from across the state receive Advanced Training in Dispute Intervention

For immediate release:
7/23/2019
  • Massachusetts Probation Service

Media Contact   for Thirty Probate & Family Probation Officers from across the state receive Advanced Training in Dispute Intervention

Coria Holland, Communications Director

Boston, MA

“These cases have less to do with legal issues and more to do with family issues. Dispute intervention helps avoid litigation, saves money and empowers families.”

Marguerite Riley, Statewide Supervisor of Probate & Family Court Probation

A group of approximately 30 Probate and Family (P&F) Court Probation Officers from across the state recently participated in a week-long advanced training in Dispute Resolution conducted by trainers from Boston-based MWI Dispute Resolution, a private mediation company whose clients have included large corporations such as Coca Cola, General Motors, and 7-Eleven.

Group of Probate and Family Court Probation Officers

Massachusetts is the first state where Probate & Family Court Probation employees have been trained to serve as in-court subject matter experts. These experts will be available at each of the state’s 12 Probate & Family court divisions where dispute interventions typically are conducted with parties seeking divorce, guardianship, child custody and parenting time, according to Marguerite Riley, Statewide Supervisor of Probate & Family Court. During fiscal year 2018, Probate & Family Court Probation Officers conducted 25,514 dispute interventions, reaching full agreements in 15,686 cases, Riley said.

The 35-hour course, conducted at the Massachusetts Probation Service Training Academy in Clinton, was specifically designed for Probate & Family Probation Officers. It provided participants with an overview in conflict styles, defining success in negotiation, interactive listening skills, dealing with difficult behaviors, handling emotion, dispute resolution skills, overcoming barriers to agreement using evidence based practices, and managing bias. In addition to the Probate & Family Probation Officers who participated in this training, several Probate & Family Chief and Assistant Chief Probation Officers as well as two administrative attorneys were among those who attended and completed the course.

Probation Officers work on and review training materials

The Probation employees were also provided additional tools that will help them maximize their time. Riley said the idea to train and develop SME’s (Subject Matter Expert) Probate & Family Probation Officers in Dispute Intervention is a direct response to a special report commissioned by Chief Justice Ralph Gants and conducted by former Justice Margot Botsford. The report found that there was “room to expand case resolution work performed by Probate & Family Probation Officers,” according to Riley.

“The training will provide participants with depth, breadth, and knowledge in a key function of their work. The competencies developed in this arena provide P&F Officers the opportunity to move their work to the next level,” Riley said. “It’s also an investment, because the 30 Officers can now go back to their respective courts and share these skills and knowledge with their colleagues,” Riley said. “It demonstrates our commitment to excellence in our work and in delivering for those we serve in the courts.”

Probation Commissioner Edward J. Dolan said, “This nationally recognized, evidence-based training in Advanced Dispute Resolution methods will better meet the needs of the Probate & Family Courts and, specifically, those seeking resolution in family court matters.  Enhanced skills lead to increased resolution rates, more sustaining agreements, expedited case resolution and increased efficiency for the P&F Court.”

Bristol Probate & Family Assistant Chief Probation Officer Laurie Plante attended the training and had this to say, "The Advanced Dispute Intervention training is a great opportunity for Probation Officers in the Probate & Family Court to enhance their current skill set and knowledge to better serve and assist litigants and families--who we work with every day--reduce conflict and reach a mutually agreed upon resolution that is fair and reasonable for all. The training is an important tool for Probation Officers in helping parents to identify underlying interests, understand and resolve their differences, and move towards a healthy co-parenting partnership."

Essex Probate & Family Probation Officer Kelly Imbriano said of the training, “I believe it is beneficial to every Probate & Family Probation Officer, whether a newly appointed officer or seasoned veteran. This training strengthens negotiation skills and teaches new approaches to resolving cases. I walked away from the training more aware of how I can simply present myself, ask better questions, and utilize the new skills that I learned to help the families that come before me every day.”

Imbriano added, “The ultimate goal is to be able to help these families resolve difficult issues. This training teaches us Probation Officers what we may be able to do better to help these families craft their own resolutions, which leads to happier families and a happier court. It makes the job rewarding to me when I am able to help a family resolve an issue that they did not believe was possible.”

 

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Media Contact   for Thirty Probate & Family Probation Officers from across the state receive Advanced Training in Dispute Intervention

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