History:  MCDR began developing a performance based assessment rating scale in 1994 to establish standards for Maryland mediators as there was concern about mediator core competency and quality assurance.  In 1996, the completed set of standards were shared with mediators from the Northern Virginia Mediation Service with the request that these mediators become familiar with the rating scale and use it to assess a small group of Maryland mediators.  (MCDR thought it was best to use an out of state mediation organization to provide objectivity in terms of assessing the initial group of Maryland mediators.) Subsequently, MCDR began using this rating scale to assess Maryland mediators who wished to sit for assessment and possible certification. A few years later, in 1998, MCDR discovered that Family Mediation Canada (FMC) had also recently developed a similar rating scale that possessed some subtle differences that MCDR believed would improve the rating scale.  MCDR obtained permission from FMC to use its rating scale in the MCDR assessment and certification process. MCDR recently modified the rating scale in 2016.