Caitlan Hendrickson, the ALTA47 Ombuds, is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner
(CO-OP) with over 20 years of experience in conflict transformation and over a decade of
experience leading alternative dispute resolution offices within large public multicultural
organizations. She is the owner and founder of Mutuality Realized LLC, holds a Master of
Education in Human Relations, and has received extensive specialized and advanced training in a
variety of dispute resolution practices.

HOW TO OBTAIN HELP FROM THE OMBUDS

The ALTA47 Ombuds is available remotely. Conference attendees may contact the Ombuds to
schedule a consultation from October 25-November 1, 2024 (the ALTA47 conference and
following week) at ALTAOmbuds@gmail.com / 623-239-2485. Se habla español.

If you would like to share ALTA47-related concerns anonymously, without meeting or
discussing them, please use the form found at https://bit.ly/alta47ombudsreport. Submissions to 
this form are sent solely to the ALTA47 Ombuds.

OMBUDS STANDARDS OF PRACTICE & TERMS OF USE

The ALTA Ombuds works in accordance with the International Ombuds Association Code of
Ethics and Standards of Practice. (Note: “Visitor” is the Ombuds term for client.)
Confidentiality: Confidentiality is a fundamental element of the Ombuds service. As such, the
Ombuds is not authorized to accept notice of allegations of violations of law and she treats all
communications, and the identities of all visitors, as strictly confidential to the maximum extent
permitted by law unless, in the discretion of the Ombuds, failure to disclose information would
create an imminent risk of serious harm. No ALTA member, conference attendee, employee, or
other constituent may compel the Ombuds to disclose information.
Impartiality: As ALTA’s designated neutral, the Ombuds works with all visitors and situations
in an impartial manner. The Ombuds does not take sides or advocate for any individual or group.

Informality: The Ombuds is an informal and off-the-record resource and as such does not
engage in formal processes and is not authorized to make or change policy. All services and
processes offered by the Ombuds are informal in nature.

Independence: The Ombuds Office functions independently of all other organizational entities.
Terms of Use: In accordance with the ALTA Ombuds Ethics and Standards of Practice, Ombuds
visitors agree to never seek to compel the Ombuds to disclose any information received as part of
providing Ombuds services in any other forum, including any litigation, investigation, or other
internal or external proceedings. By electing to utilize the voluntary services offered by the
Ombuds, visitors also agree to treat all communications from the Ombuds (including all email,
text, voicemail, phone, digital/virtual, and in-person communication) as confidential and agree to
not record conversations. In addition, if the Ombuds utilizes mediation, facilitation, or another
group process the visitors agree (to the extent permitted by law) to: (i) keep any and all
communications that take place in the process confidential unless all parties agree otherwise, (ii)
waive any right they may have to use communications that take place in the process in any
formal grievance or lawsuit, and (iii) participate in good faith towards a mutually satisfactory
outcome.