IOA Opens Registration for Pre-Conference Training in Portland

The International Ombudsman Association will offer a three training programs before its 2020 annual conference in Portland, Oregon. In addition to the signature training for new Ombuds, "Foundations," IOA is debuting a new half-day course for people considering the profession. The third session is a core course for experienced Ombuds.

Here are the descriptions:

March 27-29

Three-Day Training

Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice, Instructors: TBD

The Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice Course covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombudsman role by emphasizing the principles of confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality. Learn how to work with visitors to the office as well as how to act as a change agent within your organization. Practice key ombuds skills of listening, asking questions, clarifying, generating options, and moving to actions throughout the ombuds process. In addition, an experienced and highly committed faculty of ombuds will share best practices around setting up an office and evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of the office.

March 27-28

Two-Day Core Course

Conflict: Theory & Application for the Organizational Ombudsman, Instructor(s): TBD

As with IOA's Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice Course, core courses address fundamental knowledge and practice for new ombuds (those with less than three years of full-time practice) or for ombuds who desire to learn or refresh such fundamentals. The core courses form the basis of a curriculum for organizational ombudsmen and are based upon a set of knowledge domains derived from the CO-OP® job analysis of organizational ombudsmen. Ombuds will be expected to successfully complete core courses before taking advanced courses. The Professional Development Committee plans for all core courses to be replicable courses. [Additional details not yet available.]  

March 29

Half-Day Session

Understanding the Ombuds Role: What It Is, How It Works, & Why It Helps Organizations Thrive, Instructor(s): TBD

This half-day course is designed to help people curious about or unfamiliar with the concept of an ombuds understand the role and its unique benefits for all types of organizations. Co-taught by practicing ombuds from diverse sectors, the course straightforwardly explains what ombuds are and do, why they add value, and how they "fit" with and enhance an organization's existing systems of management, human resources, compliance, leadership, and learning. Additionally, the course will address how to analyze an organization's suitability for ombuds services and how to approach establishing ombuds services, including talking with decision-makers and building coalitions of support.

Registration for the courses is now open. (IOA Conf Schedule.)

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