Dear Students, Below you will see a plea for support to continue funding the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution. This commission does wonderful and crucial work to teach educators how to teach children to resolve conflicts at a young age and throughout the school years. Any of you who have had me for class have heard me speak about the critical nature of teaching children how to deal with conflict, one approach that will help us to prevent some acts of violence that emerge from internalized anger and rage at having been bullied or treated unfairly.
In this economy, sadly, it appears the commission may be eliminated. If you have an interest in this topic and agree that this is a good resource, please consider writing a letter or making a call.
Thank you,
MKE

Molly Kelly-Elliott, M.Ed.
Clinical Faculty & Undergraduate Advisor
Special Education Program
Miami University
Department of Educational Psychology
201E McGuffey Hall
Oxford, Ohio 45056
(513)529-1711
________________________________________
From: Wallis, Sarah [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:31 PM
To: Kelly-Elliott, Molly MEd Ms.
Subject: Please Help Restore Funding for the OH. Commission on Dispute Resolution

Hello!

I know that you are all busy this time of year, planning for summer trips, wrapping up the school year or just enjoying spring, However, please take a minute to read the message below and make a call on behalf of the Commission.

Please Help Restore Funding for the OH. Commission on Dispute Resolution

The Ohio Senate has proposed eliminating all funding ($349,000 per year) for the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution – a state agency that provides ADR resources, training, and direct services to schools, courts, communities, and state and local government.

The Commission is the only state-level agency with expertise in this field and it has consistently demonstrated that it saves the State hundreds of thousands of dollars through its prevention efforts.  If Ohio loses the Commission, there will be no state-level advocates for this very important work.

The Commission saves the state significant dollars by providing more cost effective and efficient dispute resolution systems.  For every dollar invested in the Commission, the State saves four.  This is more than a 400% return on investment!  In addition to its demonstrated cost savings to the State, the Commission is responding to a number of critical needs -- violence in youth corrections, school bullying that has led to teen suicides, and the unprecedented number of home foreclosures.  The attached document outlines the Commission’s response as well its demonstrated cost savings.

In addition, with the loss of the Ohio Resource Network (ebasedprevention.org) and the Ohio Safe School Center the low-cost resources and technical assistance for schools will become even more limited.

Please take a moment to contact Senator Carey’s office (He is chair of the Senate Finance Committee) at (614) 466-8156 and to send your Senator and Representatives in the Ohio General Assembly an email or hard copy letter asking them to reinstate funding for the Commission.  If you are not sure who your Senator and Representative are or how to contact them, click here and follow the simple instructions:  http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/.


The Honorable John Carey (District 17-Pickaway, Fayette, Clinton, Highland, Pike, Ross, Vinton, Jackson, Gallia)
Chair, Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee
Ohio Statehouse, Room 127, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

phone:  614-466-8156

Email:  [log in to unmask]

Many thanks for your assistance and please forward to others!


Sarah Wallis
Director of Education Programs
Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management
77 S. High St.  24th Floor
Columbus, Ohio  43215

Phone: (614) 644-9275
Fax: (614) 752-9682
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
Web site:  www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov

This message and any response to it may constitute a public record.







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