New Mexico ADR Council Recommends Creating an Office of Dispute Resolution and Prevention

Briefly stated, the Office would be:

  • A centralized coordinator for Executive branch departments and agencies.
  • A promoter of a wide range of communication and facilitation methods in various settings, including
    • personnel/human resource issues
    • organizational effectiveness and conflict management
    • dispute resolution between agencies and their regulated and/or affected publics, other governmental entities, contractors and citizens
    • facilitation of policy input, dialogue and consensus building
  • Neutral and apolitical, concerned with promoting communication skills and collaborative processes rather than particular outcomes or agendas; and directing state agency managers and staff to problem-solving mechanisms without fear of retribution for bringing those problems to light.
  • A focus for securing contract services in training, education, outreach, and referral to department and agency programs and to qualified mediators, facilitators and other providers.

The Drafting Committee actively sought out information regarding ADR, facilitation and ombuds programs from the public and private sectors within New Mexico, and from federal and state governments. Committee members also interfaced on numerous occasions with persons who were involved in prior ADR and public facilitation initiatives here in New Mexico.

ADR became a formal policy of with the adoption of the New Mexico Governmental Dispute Resolution Act in 2000 and the promulgation of an Executive Order by former Governor Johnson. The General Services Department, Risk Management Division was charged with coordinating the promotion of ADR policies and procedures throughout the Executive branch, and with developing and providing conflict management training to state employees. The Governor’s Performance Review in 2003 and 2004 contained a specific reference to further use of ADR, and was followed by Governor Richardson’s promulgation of Executive Order 2005-047 which established the ADR Advisory Council and gave the lead role to the General Services Department, Risk Management Division.

For a full copy of the report and recommendations, visit the State of New Mexico web site.