The Working Group was established by Presidential Memorandum dated May 1, 1998, to assist federal agencies in developing and operating ADR programs. The Working Group's members are comprised of those agencies that attended the September 14, 1998, organizational meeting in the Great Hall at the Department of Justice, and any others that wish to avail themselves of the assistance of the Group to develop administrative dispute resolution programs.

The Sections of the Working Group

To accomplish the tasks of the Working Group, four discrete Sections were created within the Working Group to assist federal agencies in creating ADR programs in specific subject matter areas. Those Sections are: Workplace Conflict Management, Contracts and Procurement, Enforcement and Regulatory, and Litigation Claims Against the Government. During the first year of operation, the Working Group operated primarily through these Sections to provide technical assistance and guidance on best practices in ADR program development. These sections have conducted more than fifty training sessions, meetings, and colloquia on all aspects of ADR. As we have moved forward, the Sections have indicated a desire to continue serving the needs of federal agencies interested in developing strong and effective dispute resolution programs.

The Working Group's Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the staff-level committee that supports the work of the Sections and the Working Group. The Steering Committee consists of ADR professionals and experts in the federal government who have given their time and expertise to the cause of the Working Group and its Sections. Many members of the Steering Committee serve as their agency's Dispute Resolution Specialist and are responsible for the operation of ADR programs within their own organizations.