Local citizen volunteers review randomly selected foster care cases and make recommendations to local circuit courts and social service agencies regarding those cases. Data from local board reviews and a state level advisory committee are used to analyze and recommend changes to improve the functioning of the state's child welfare system. Community Dispute Resolution Program . The Community Dispute Resolution Program was created to provide financial and technical support for nonprofit community dispute resolution programs which provide mediation locally as an alternative to litigation and to provide an additional forum for resolution of disputes which may not be amendable to court resolution. Annually approximately 10,000 people use the local dispute resolution process.
Programs use local volunteer mediators.
The CDRP program provides grants for operations to supplement community resources, and provides training and technical assistance for local programs. Recently, the CDRP program staff has worked with local programs to establish performance measure for community mediation programs. The program also houses the Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program, Michigan Special Education Mediation Program, and the Permanency Planning Mediation Program. Court Reporting and Recording Board of Review. The Board of Review, staffed by the SCAO, establishes criteria for certification of court reporters and recorders and administers tests for certification of court reporters and recorders.