resolutions: An eNewsletter from FASAP, Work/Life Resource Center and Mediation Services

October 25, 2007

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Mediation:  It’s Good for Whatever Conflicts Ail Us
Linda Winkler, Mediation Services for Faculty and Staff

mediation coupleMediation is a wonderful tool for resolving not only workplace disputes but also other types of disputes that can arise in nearly every area of our lives.

  • Is your landlord refusing to make the repairs you think he should?
  • Is your school district refusing to provide the special education services you feel your child needs to succeed? 
  • Are you and your spouse in the midst of a divorce?
  • Do you and your siblings have different ideas about how best to help your aging parent who is no longer able to manage her affairs? 
  • Are you and your teenager locking horns over your teenager’s behavior?  
  • Is your contractor denying responsibility for damage to your home that you’re sure he caused?
  • Are you and your neighbor at odds over the fence bordering your properties?
  • Is the store from which you purchased the defective refrigerator refusing to take it back?

You get the idea.  We often find ourselves in disputes of one sort or another.  Many of them we can resolve on our own.  But some we can’t.  Litigation and grievance procedures tend to have winners and losers, create or increase animosity between those involved, and make any continued relationship between the parties difficult if not impossible.  In mediation, we get to sit down and work out a solution that everyone can live with and then go forward in a reasonably amicable way. 

Where do you go to find a mediator who can help? 

If it’s a work-related dispute, you can of course call Mediation Services for Faculty and Staff at 615-4789. If it’s another kind of dispute, you can turn to the Community Dispute Resolution Program.  It’s run by Michigan’s State Court Administrative Office, which provides funding to a network of non-profit centers across the state.  At these centers, you will find well-trained volunteer mediators who will help you resolve your dispute for a small charge, or sometimes even for free. 

To find the center nearest to you or to learn how you can become a community mediator, call 1-800-8RESOLV (1-800-873-7658).  

For more information, take a look at http://www.courts.michigan.gov/scao/dispute/ or, for the Dispute Resolution Center of Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, http://www.mimediation.org/.

 

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University Eldercare Resources

eldercareTurner Geriatric Clinic Social Work will present the next "Caring for Aging Relative Seminar", a 6 week series covering the following topics:

  • Physical changes of Aging
  • Dementia, Delirium and Depression
  • Pharmacy Issues and Substance Abuse
  • Medicare/Medicaid
  • Legal Issues
  • Community Resources

When: Thursdays, September 27 through November 1, 2007 from 6 PM- 8 PM
Where: Turner Senior Resource Center, 2401 Plymouth Rd., Suite C, Ann Arbor,
Cost: $35/person, $60/couple ( includes resource packet); light refreshments served

Improving Your Memory: A Class for Baby Boomers

Want to learn techniques to keep your memory sharp in your work life or as you move into retirement? Want to understand how memory works? Attend a two session memory course. Fee: $40.00 including the course book, "Improving Your Memory: How To Remember What You're Starting To Forget."

Tuesdays October 16 & 23   5:30- 7:30.
Location  2401 Plymouth Rd.   Turner Senior Resource Center

For more information and to register for these seminars please call 734-764-2556

The Work/Life Resource Center
http://www.umich.edu/~hraa/worklife/
Eldercare information and referral service available to all faculty, staff, and students. 
Phone, email, or face-to-face consultations can be scheduled.
Call 936-8677.


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UMCC Launches New Infant Care Program and “Throws a Shower"

As part of the U-M Child Care Initiative, the Children’s Center on North Ingalls has been renovated through the summer and opened on Tuesday, September 4 with a new room for infants. The program can serve 8 infants in the mornings and 8 in the afternoons. Several families have signed up for each session, with more visiting every day. This program is part of a campus wide effort to expand support of faculty, staff and students who need child care on or near campus.

The UMCC renovation also upgraded other classrooms, created a new multi–purpose play space and children’s library, and upgraded the playgrounds. In celebration of this wonderful step forward, and in order to properly outfit the new infant program with toys and equipment, UMCC is holding a virtual “Baby Shower”. Please join in the joy and make a donation that will enrich the experiences of babies, toddlers and preschoolers in the program.

You can support the program, and the U-M Children's Center by making a gift to the Children's Center "Baby Shower" Fund.

Click here for details:
http://www.hr.umich.edu/childcare/giving/index.html

For more information on enrollment for children ages 3 months – 5 years, please contact center director, Ann Demare at 734-647-2668.

For information on all of the University’s Children’s Programs, please visit our web gateway at http://www.childcare.umich.edu.

 

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Struggling with Sleep Issues?
by Tom Waldecker, Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

sleepAs most studies now discuss, the average adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Some of us can get by with as little as 5 or 6 hours and then others need up to 10 hours.  There are many factors that can contribute to sleep problems. Among some of the common contributors to sleep disorders are anxieties about family, work or personal issues. Often we ruminate on solutions and then have difficulty falling asleep or we keep waking up during the night.  The end result - we often feel just plain exhausted. 

There are a number of signs to be cognizant of that we may not be getting enough sleep.  Among some of the signs of sleep deprivation are falling asleep during the day or a lack of concentration in meetings or on phone calls, more moodiness, anxiety and irritability than usual, a lack of concentration and more difficulty waking up in the morning.  Often when someone is fighting dowsing off in the middle of the day they have a sleep debt that they just have not been able to catch up on. Furthermore, when someone wakes up frequently in the night or has problems falling asleep there are a number of resulting effects. 

At FASAP we recognize that often individuals suffer sleep problems when they have personal or work issues that are troubling them. For instance, if we are worried about our relationship with a loved one or our interactions with a colleague or supervisor we can get anxious and not fall asleep or stay asleep. Some of the other possible consequences from sleep loss include slowed reaction time, exasperated mood symptoms and feeling more easily irritated.  Furthermore, those suffering from sleep deprivation often find it more difficult to concentrate and focus on details.

There are a number of strategies that have been found to be helpful in getting one to fall asleep easier and to sleep restfully.  Following are some suggestions to consider to get “better sleep”;

  • Establish some relaxing bedtime routines or rituals. For example, listen to some soft music, practice mediation or have a soothing caffeine free tea.

  • Reduce or limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption. Some of us are very sensitive to caffeine and even small amounts can keep us from falling asleep. Alcohol can help us fall asleep but it often interferes with restful sleep.

  • Exercise early in the day.  If we exercise in the evening we may end up being “too energized.”

  • Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule. Make an effort to train your body to sleep at the same time each day, this routine helps establish a pattern.

  • Clear your thoughts. Often many of us go to sleep ruminating about issues of our day. So before you lay down to sleep write down all things you want (or need) to address the next day so you’re not thinking of them , or waking up and pondering on them.

If you are aware of some issues in your life that are contributing to your own lack of restful sleep and are struggling to find some relief consider talking to one of the FASAP counseling staff.  The FASAP counselor can discuss some options with you on how to address the personal concerns that may be contributing to your sleep issues. 

Contact FASAP (http://www.umich.edu/~fasap/) at 936-8660 or email fasap@umich.edu. 

 

 

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Staff Profiles:

linda w.Linda Winkler   

Linda began working at Mediation Services for Faculty and Staff in September.  As Sally Johnson, who created and nurtured Mediation Services, devotes her time to other projects and looks toward retirement next summer, Linda will manage the program.

Linda has been a mediator at the Dispute Resolution Center of Washtenaw County since 1996 and continues to volunteer there.  Her community activities also include serving on the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission, delivering meals for Motor Meals of Ann Arbor, and working on political campaigns.  She went to college at Cornell University, law school at Northeastern University, and received lots of mediation training through the Dispute Resolution Center and the Michigan State Court Administrative Office.  She is a member of the Michigan Bar, the Washtenaw County List of Approved Civil Mediators, and the Michigan Roster of Approved Special Education Mediators.

After locating Michigan on a map, Linda and her husband rolled into Ann Arbor from the east back in 1983 and have been here ever since.  They have two daughters, one now in college and the other still in high school.

 

Keisha Vereen

La Keisha Vereen Joined the Work/Life Resource Center this past July as a Child Care Referral Specialist. Keisha works as a contractor with the University of Michigan, through Child Care Network.  In this role, she enjoys assisting UM faculty, staff, and students in finding child care, by providing them with childcare referrals and resources.

Keisha is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University; she has also done some graduate work there. Prior to coming to WLRC she worked as a preschool teacher for 5 years.

Keisha has a 12 year old daughter Ryain and a 13 year old cat, Emani. Keisha has lived in Ann Arbor Area for most of her life, though she has spent time living in both South West Detroit and Baltimore Maryland. In her free time Keisha enjoys playing “Gobblet” with her daughter, reading, and art. She also enjoys community service, Bible study and serving as a middle school Sunday school teacher at Second Baptist Church in Ann Arbor. Keisha also enjoys serving on the board of the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County.


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FASAP AND THE WORK/LIFE RESOURCE CENTER WANT TO SPREAD THE WORD

A representative of FASAP and the WLRC can come to your department or staff meeting and make a short (10 to 20 minute) presentation on the range of services that are offered by the two programs. 

To arrange a presentation please call 936-8660 and speak to a program representative.

 

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resolutions is published in the Winter, Spring and Fall of every year. To obtain additional information regarding our services contact FASAP, Mediation Services or Work/Life Resource Center at (734) 936-8660.

Hospital employees may contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
at 763-5409 for counseling service.