ADDRESS: Carter County Courthouse 20 B Street SW Suite 101 Ardmore, OK 73401
PROGRAM SPONSOR:
The South Central program strives to provide conflict resolution services that are fair, effective, expeditious, and FREE of charge to the communities and courts of South Central Oklahoma.
South Central Program News and Updates!
Court Improvement Conference
Basic Civil Mediator Training! Early Settlement Mediation is in need of new volunteer mediators in Southern Oklahoma. Our Program provides FREE mediation services for the courts and community by using trained volunteer mediators. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer mediator for the Early Settlement Program, please reach out to our office by phone or email to apply today!Court Improvement Conference! Directors from the Early Settlement Mediation regional programs recently staffed an information table with brochures at the Court Improvement Conference in Norman. The Early Settlement Mediation program provides FREE mediation services for child permanency cases when court ordered. Pictured L to R: Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System & Jaxie Johnston, Director, South Central Program.
Carter County Courthouse Open House
Courthouse Open House!Chris Schroder, Executive Director of the Association of County Commissioners, was able to stop by today to view the Early Settlement Mediation – South Central office space in the Carter County Courthouse. Chris serves as a member of the Dispute Resolution Advisory Board which provides guidance to the Director of the Courts and State Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System in operating the Early Settlement Programs statewide. Chris is pictured with Jaxie Johnston, South Central Program Director.
Volunteer Mediator Coffee Day
Coffee Day! Community Volunteers from the Durant area had a coffee meet-up recently. Several volunteers were unable to attend and were missed! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer mediator, contact the South Central office!
Area Students Courthouse Visit
Court Visitors! The Springer schools summer program visited the Carter County Courthouse recently. Pat Madden (Assistant District Attorney), Melanie Blackburn (Local Attorney), Jaxie Johnston (Early Settlement Mediation Director), Judge CarsonBrooks, and Renee Bryant (Court Clerk) spent the morning explaining each role they play on a daily basis at the courthouse. It was a great learning opportunity, and the children asked excellent questions!
Kiwanis Club Program Overview
The South Central Program Director, Jaxie Johnston, recently spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Ardmore about the Early Settlement Program. Jaxie shared that the South Central Program mediates over 300 cases in their area each year, and encouraged the group to consider becoming a volunteer mediator. Pictured from left is Brandon Naifeh, Kiwanis President; Jaxie Johnston, Early Settlement Director; and Craig Ladd, local attorney and Kiwanis member.
Volunteer of the Year! Joe Barrett has been an amazing volunteer for the South-Central Program for the last 8 years. He is trained in both basic and family and divorce mediation. Joe has volunteered in his local community by being involved in numerous organizations including the Gideons International, Kiwanis of Durant, and Meals-on-Wheels. Joe has conducted 110 cases and volunteered 202 hours while mediating for our program.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about mediating he replied, “Mediation is a rewarding experience by assisting others in resolving their differences. It has also given me the tools needed to resolve conflicts in my personal life.”
“Joe’s volunteer experience made him a perfect fit for our program. He was interested in volunteering to help those in his community resolve their disputes. He’s an asset to our program and his community in South Central Oklahoma,” Jaxie Johnston, said
