International Ombuds Association
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Foundations Course | Portland, OR | March 2020
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
1401 SW Naiot Parkway
Portland, Oregon 97201
United States
+1-503-226-7600

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Friday, March 27, 2020, 8:00 AM to Sunday, March 29, 2020, 3:30 PM EDT
Category: Foundations Courses

Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice Course

3-Day Course

8:00  a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday/Saturday
8:00 a.m.  3:30 p.m. Sunday

This 101 style course covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombuds role based on the principles of confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality. Participants will learn how to work with the visitor to an 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. 

Read more about this learning opportunity below.

This course has been approved for 23.5 Professional Development Hours towards the CO-OP® Credential.

Registration & Fees | Course Description | FacultyLocation 


Registration - Sold Out

Registration Information:

The 2020 March Foundations Course is now full. You may join our waitlist and we will contact you if spots become available.  You may also consider the new Pre-Conference Session Understanding the Ombuds Role: What It Is, How It Works, & Why It Helps Organizations Thrive

  • IOA Members: $1695 flat rate
  • Non-Members: $1995 flat rate
  • Bundle & Save: Foundations Course attendees can bundle and save on full conference registration. Get $100 off full conference registration by emailing the IOA office after you have signed up for the Foundations Course. Once you have registered for the Foundations Course you will receive a unique discount code to be used when completing your conference registration.
Join the Waitlist

*To receive the IOA member discount for this event, you must first become a member then proceed to event registration.

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Course Description 

This course covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombudsman role by emphasizing the principles of confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality. Learn how to work with the visitor to the office as well as how to act as a change agent within your organization. Practice key ombudsman 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 ombudsmen will share best practices around setting up an office and evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of the office.

As a result of this program you will learn:

  • How the role, scope, and duties of today’s ombudsman began and evolved
  • The four basic principles of the organizational ombudsman role: neutrality, independence, confidentiality, and informality
  • Why confidentiality is essential to the practice and how to maintain confidentiality
  • How to listen as a neutral, including effective techniques for interviewing and inquiring, reflective listening, reframing, identifying issues, and providing options
  • How to manage and work with conflict by employing a battery of skills including listening, coaching, and negotiation techniques
  • How to decide which intervention would be most effective and how to provide feedback to management
  • How to set up and operate an ombudsman office, including the fundamentals of how to log concerns, report to management, and design reports to track issues
  • How to align the ombudsman function with the mission, values, and culture of the organization
  • How to promote the ombudsman role and function, including ways to gain and keep management support

Who should attend:

The course will benefit the recently appointed ombudsman, or anyone desiring to establish an ombudsman function in industry, government, higher education, and public or private social services agencies. 

This course applies to ombudsman programs in organizational settings. It does not address some features unique to other ombudsmen disciplines such as classical, patient advocate, or legislative ombudsman.

Course Limit: 34 participants

Prerequisites: None

This course is approved for 23.5 Professional Development Hours towards the CO-OP® Credential.

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Faculty

More information coming soon.

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Course Location

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
1401 SW Naito Parkway Portland, Oregon 97201
Phone: (503) 226-7600

IOA March 2020 Hotel

  • Room Rate: $199 USD + taxes and fees
  • Marriott cancellation policy allows a guest to cancel up to 48 hours prior to arrival without penalty. For additional nights before or after the event, please contact Jodi Hustoft 503.499.6388 with your group confirmation number. This rate is contracted for up to double occupancy. There is a $5.00 additional charge per person for triple or quad occupancy.
Book Your Room

IOA 2020 Annual Conference Government Per Diem Room Block

  • Room Rate: $184 USD + taxes and fees
  • Marriott cancellation policy allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours prior to arrival without penalty. This room block is for Government associates only. A Government ID will need to be shown at check-in, or the rate will revert to the Attendee rate. Rate is contracted for double occupancy per room. There is a $5.00 additional charge per person for triple or quad occupancy. To reserve additional nights before or after the event dates, please contact Jodi Hustoft at 503.499.6388 with your group confirmation number. 
Book a Government Rate Room

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 Questions?

Contact the IOA office at [email protected].