BECOME AN SCFM CO-MEDIATOR
- Do it to help our families and kids in crisis when they need you most.
- Do it to become a legendary mediator and co-mediator.
- Do it because as you become great at this, you'll naturally evolve as a human being.
- Do it because, together we provide a better form of social peace and justice.
What We Do
- We work in teams - using a co-mediation model - to serve families at all L.A. County juvenile dependency courts.
- The goal is to help co-parents (or guardians) negotiate their own written, custom-detailed Mediated Agreement.
- Agreements include: Visitation and holiday schedules, exchanges, communication, and more.
Where
- Most of us co-mediate from home, via online.
- We also offer optional in-person co-mediation opportunities at the Edmund D. Edelman Children's Courthouse in Monterey Park and the Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center in the Antelope Valley.
How
- Thanks to our close, 11-year relationship with the Court, parents are ordered to mediation (but they can't be ordered to agree).
- There are four attorneys and case files for each case to provide us guidance and the orders of the Court.
WHAT IT TAKES TO JOIN THIS EXCEPTIONAL PANEL OF MEDIATORS
Two-Year Commitment
- One day per week (8:00AM to 3:30PM*) for one year; and
- At least one day every other week for one year.**
*Co-mediations commonly finish by late morning or early afternoon (but we never know).
**Flexibility for vacations is fine. We book-up four-weeks in advance, and so calling-out with less than four weeks' notice is problematic for the team.
Skills
- Great mediators are negotiators of acumen.
- Belief (tenacity), patience, curiosity and listening skills are musts for great mediators.
- You do NOT need a legal background.
- You do NOT need a social work or mental health background.
- You do NOT need any certification other than the one you may earn through our education program.
- A full "Court Mediator" requires a combination of formal education and related mediation experience.
- A "Paraprofessional Mediator" may co-mediate while earning the experience to become a full Court Mediator.
Education & Certification
Our Judicial Counsel of California-approved Advanced Family And Dependency Court Mediation-40 (AFADCM-40) has historically been offered once per year, since 2016. Technically, completion of this course is all you need to join the team. You must complete this course, and there are no substitutes.
It is helpful, but not required, to have had some previous basic mediation training.
It is helpful, but not required to have some previous mediation experience.
Security Clearance
A (currently, free) LAC Superior Court Security Clearance is required, and there are no substitutes, no exceptions.
Zelle® available with no fees.
Please, mail your Peace Investment Donation check to:
Southern California Family Mediation
PO Box 7576 Burbank, CA 91510
Southern California Family Mediation is a 501(c)3
Administrative Support
Tiger Team Supervisor, Nellie "Naomi" Tillman
818-575-6900 (no text) | Nelliet@DependencyMediation.org
Education & Join-us
Program & Dependency Court Mediation Support
Mediator L Randy Drew
818-257-0007 | Drew@DependencyMediation.org
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