Nuts and Bolts of Child Nuts and Bolts of Child Custody MediationCustody Mediation

2007 Family Dispute Resolution Statewide Educational 2007 Family Dispute Resolution Statewide Educational InstituteInstitute

April 19 – 20, 2007April 19 – 20, 2007Hyatt Regency, San Francisco AirportHyatt Regency, San Francisco Airport

Presented By:Presented By:John K. Johnson, M.Phil-DPSJohn K. Johnson, M.Phil-DPS

ObjectivesObjectives

1.1. Learn about different mediation styles and Learn about different mediation styles and techniques regardless of particular models from techniques regardless of particular models from working professionals;working professionals;

2.2. Group discussion of the various mediation Group discussion of the various mediation processes to better understand how mediation is processes to better understand how mediation is conducted;conducted;

3.3. Discussion on issues relating to: Parent Discussion on issues relating to: Parent Education/Orientation Classes, Bias, and how to Education/Orientation Classes, Bias, and how to maintaining the focus on resolving conflicts and maintaining the focus on resolving conflicts and best interests of children.best interests of children.

Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics

Discussion topics will include the roles of Discussion topics will include the roles of mediators; styles of mediation (i.e. Facilitative, mediators; styles of mediation (i.e. Facilitative, Evaluative, Transformative, etc…), bias, parent Evaluative, Transformative, etc…), bias, parent education (Orientation Classes) and agreements, education (Orientation Classes) and agreements, and maintaining the focus on children. and maintaining the focus on children.

““Basically, we will take the “engine” apart to see Basically, we will take the “engine” apart to see how it works, and why. Written materials on this how it works, and why. Written materials on this topic will be made available to workshop topic will be made available to workshop participants. participants.

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

How do you begin mediation? What’s your How do you begin mediation? What’s your intro?intro?

Orientation/Parent Education Classes: What Orientation/Parent Education Classes: What do you do? Do you notice a change in your do you do? Do you notice a change in your client’s outcomes if they attended orientation client’s outcomes if they attended orientation with you?with you?

What do you look for during Mediation?What do you look for during Mediation?

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

What techniques do you find are most What techniques do you find are most effective, and when? (Modality)effective, and when? (Modality)

What do you believe is the most important What do you believe is the most important aspect in mediation?aspect in mediation?

Shifts in the mediation process: What Shifts in the mediation process: What works? What just happened?works? What just happened?

How do you facilitate change?How do you facilitate change?

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

How to you keep child focused and not How to you keep child focused and not become part of the conflict? Hinder vs. Helpbecome part of the conflict? Hinder vs. Help

How do you facilitate change?How do you facilitate change? Why do you recommend services for clients Why do you recommend services for clients

(i.e.…counseling, anger management…)?(i.e.…counseling, anger management…)?

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

Biases.Biases. What is the harshest thing you said to a What is the harshest thing you said to a

client? Why did you say it? Did it work?client? Why did you say it? Did it work? Case management: Can you see the people Case management: Can you see the people

in 3, 6, or 9 months? How do you handle in 3, 6, or 9 months? How do you handle temp agreements?temp agreements?

Why do you recommend services to clients?Why do you recommend services to clients?

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

Do you notice overall patterns in cases that Do you notice overall patterns in cases that result in agreements? Is it the people, result in agreements? Is it the people, mediator, or is it both/neither?mediator, or is it both/neither?

Separate session: Are they realistic?Separate session: Are they realistic?

ConclusionConclusion

We would like to thank you for participating in We would like to thank you for participating in the interactive group. We hope you have the interactive group. We hope you have learned useful tools and techniques that you learned useful tools and techniques that you can take back and implement in your can take back and implement in your mediation cases.mediation cases.