ADR and Collaborative Problem Solving: New Tools for Government Efficiency

Alternative forms of administrative dispute resolution and collaborative problem solving (collectively known as “ADR”) are flexible and effective tools for generating better, faster and cheaper results in government and for achieving vital stakeholder input for preventing and resolving problems.

The Council and its Mission

Virginia's Interagency Advisory Council on ADR was created by statute to encourage and assist state agencies in achieving more effective results through collaborative practices and alternative forms of administrative dispute resolution, across a wide range of governmental functions, including but not limited to procurement and contracting, human resources management, regulation and enforcement, licensing and permitting, policymaking, and intergovernmental relations.

Chaired by the Secretary of Administration, the Council is charged with conducting training on ADR, publishing educational material, reporting on the use of ADR processes in government, and making recommendations for changes in the law to the Governor and General Assembly.

Virginia Administrative Dispute Resolution Act - Passed by the 2002 General Assembly, the Virginia Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (“VADRA”) expressly authorizes all public bodies in state and local government to use alternative processes — such as mediation, facilitation, partnering, and any other process that encourages collaborative problem-solving — to address and resolve controversial issues. In addition to creating the Interagency Advisory Council on ADR, VADRA also requires state agencies to adopt policies addressing the use of ADR in their programs and operations, and to designate a central Coordinatorwithin their staff to lead agency ADR efforts.