SC Family Mediation Since 2014 =Resources=

This is the right place to begin to succeed with SCFM

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SCFM Mediation Information video
Vídeo de Información Sobre la Mediación de SCFM
Email Subscribe option, to stay informed
SCFM Mediation and Confidentiality (MAC) Agreement video
Attorneys - How to prepare your parents for mediation
Interested in becoming an SCFM Mediator? Click here...

Contact Info for mediation services at Other Than LAC Dependency Courts
Mediation Feedback Survey (Sent after every mediation.)
Downloadable Documents
Information & FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Visit Supervisor / Monitor - Resources

Attorneys - How to prepare your parent for mediation

In 25% of cases, our volunteers have cleared their day and a parent is not prepared to mediate.

After viewing the Mediation Information video (above), here are a few things of which our volunteer mediators would like you to please make your clients aware:

Mediation is a great opportunity to be a decision-maker!
There is not enough mediation to go around, so if they don't show up ready, parents may not get another opportunity.
PARENTS' SCHEDULES MUST BE CLEARED from 8:45am to 4:00pm.
Two expert volunteers have cleared their schedules.
Parents should be actively looking for two emails. Search Spam/Junk (if needed) for: "Mediation", "Caseload Manager", or "HelloSign". If they don't find 2 emails, they should contact: NellieT@DependencyMediation.org

Parents don't need to bring anything. (School, doctor, and activity schedules can be helpful.)
We cannot negotiate what the court has ordered, or financial support.
The day may go faster, if parents can pre-negotiate: Schedule, Exchanges, Calls/Video Calls, Holidays, (Supervisors if needed).
Mediation is not all-or-nothing. Be agreement-minded, realistic, and future-focused.
Mediation can be a hard day, and it's worth it. Try to get good rest the night before and have some breakfast.
Mediators don't work for the Court. We are here to help parents create their plan to help avoid future confusion & frustration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Original artwork, created by someone in the Mediation Center at the Children's Courthouse

Original artwork created by someone special in the Mediation Center at the Children's Courthouse

FAQ

Mediation:

Is voluntary assisted-negotiation, where the people decide.
When mediation and the courts work together, it's a better form of social peace & justice.
Communications that are part of a mediation discussion are confidential and inadmissible.
An (up to) day-long (8:45am to 3:45pm) agreement creation workshop.
Not going to solve all your problems, but having a written, customized, written plan (like a road map) can help a lot.
Mediation is our gift to you, your kids, your families, your community, with the hope and expectation that you will be able to successfully put the dependency court in your and your kids' rear view mirror, permanently.

Dependency Courts

In addition to family law courts, in Los Angeles, there are about 30 dependency courts, where parental rights are at risk.
Let's get you out of here for good.

Hybrid (online & in-person) mediations will begin 2023.

Contact us with your questions and for your meeting link or location, start time, and information.
818-575-6900 (no text)
nelliet@dependencymediation.org

What if I need to reschedule?

There is not enough mediation to go around. Someone chose you, your coparent, your children, your families, and your unique situation to be given the opportunity to have a mediated conversation guided by two expert mediators, at no cost to you, no cost to the attorneys, no cost to social services, and no cost to the court.
Our generous and caring volunteers, donors & friends have made this opportunity possible for you, your kid(s), your families, to give peace a chance, because we believe the harmful effects of unproductive conflict can be reduced through the process of mediation, and a mediated agreement.
If you have to reschedule and you are afforded another opportunity for a day of mediation, it may be some weeks before your attorney can get you another appointment. Please, notify us mediation@socalfm.org and your attorney immediately.

Mediated Agreement

If you can pre-negotiate with your coparent, it will be good, and will speed up your day of mediation.

What to be thinking about:

Schedule;
Transportation & Exchange Plan;
Visit supervisors (monitors), if needed;
Communication Plan (coparent-to-coparent & coparent-to-child/ren);
Vacation Plan;
Travel Plan;
Other Terms & Conditions (Custom to you, to help reduce the harmful effects of conflict for everyone); and
Holidays and Special Days Schedule (Which days & times are most important to you?)

Who decides safety issues like supervised (monitored) visits and custody?

The Court (judicial officer working with all the attorneys, the social worker, and others) is the decision maker when it comes to who decides safety issues like supervised (monitored) visits, overnights, and custody.

Custody

Family Code Section 3003: Joint Legal Custody means that both parents shall share the right and responsibility to make decisions related to the health, education, and welfare of the child.
Family Code Section 3006: Sole Legal Custody means that one parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions related to the health, education, and welfare of the child.
Family Code Section 3004: Joint Physical Custody means that each parent has significant periods of time with the child. Joint Physical Custody shall be shared in such a way as to assure a child of frequent and continuing contact with both parents.
Family Code section 3007: Sole Physical Custody means a child shall reside with and be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the court ordering visitation for the other parent.

Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Courthouse (main)

Address: 201 Centre Plaza Drive Monterey Park CA 91754

Website: http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse/info/jvdep/ccj

Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center

Address: 1040 West Avenue J Lancaster CA 93534

Website: http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/Locations/ui/location.aspx?loc=LAN&tab=2&d=Directory

Pomona Courthouse

Address: 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766

News Release: https://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/uploads/14202112299375821NRDEPENDENCYPOMONA281.pdf

Compton Courthouse

Address: 200 W. Compton Blvd. Compton CA 90220

Website: http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/juvenile

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Phones: Service/Intake and Administration (310) 603-7128, Service/Intake (310) 603-7816, Service/Intake (310) 603-7816

Feedback

“SCFM Mediation Services provides a sophisticated, equitable, meaningful agreement, the way a child’s visitation schedule should be. Because if they know what to do, it alleviates the stress and confusion, and makes for a much more peaceful coexistence. They are highly, highly recommended by a veteran Children’s Court attorney.”

- Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers Inc., Attorney, Bernstein

“The mediators of Southern California Family Mediation show great care and concern for families, ensuring that each voice is heard. The mediators’ attention to detail provides understanding and a stable footing for the families so they don’t have to keep coming back to the juvenile justice system. After the families have been through a traumatic process, mediation offers closure and healing, and provides a fresh start for the parents and children, so that they may be even stronger than they were before.”

- Children’s Law Center of California, Attorney, Wilson

“Children’s Court cases end, but the consequences must be dealt with by the families everyday thereafter. Thanks to SoCal Family Mediation Services, exit orders of all kinds are being negotiated regularly, thoroughly, and with great compassion for the families involved.”

- Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers Inc., Director

“This program has improved the public service and provided integrity for the Children’s Court, by enabling coparents to participate in a meaningful mediation regarding the custody, visitation, medical, and educational plans for their children.

These concrete and specific Custody and Parenting Time Agreements, for Final Juvenile Custody Order Judgements can be used in the Family Law Court, to provide continuity, cohesion, and a pathway to continuing the family needs and goals, once they leave the child dependency system. A specific visitation schedule for families enhances the chances that they will not return to the child dependency system. There are provisions for safety, stability, and permanency for the child or children.”

- Los Angeles County Family Law Court, Commissioner, Mordetzky

Families

“I really appreciated your input and assistance; I would not have been able to come to such a reasonable accord otherwise. I am glad I now have the grounds on which to build a future routine based on set parameters. I am quite pleased with the terms of the agreement, once again, thank you.”

“This has undone years of conflict.”

“Mediation helped us communicate our wants and needs of each other. Also, I really appreciate the mediators explaining things better for the father to understand where it is I am coming from so he may understand better.”

“Mediation was helpful in the sense I feel my concerns were really heard. I feel it will benefit the kids with a more structured coparenting system in place.”

“The mediators helped us arrange a better environment for our daughter. The mediation helped us to have structure.”

“[Mediation] was very helpful, clear, and straight to the point. [mediation] was helpful because it made sure to put the kids 1st.

“It was very helpful for both parents, very clear and very smooth for fixing and finding an agreement. Thank you so much for your help.”

“Mediation provided a safe communication environment for scheduling visits. My child will have the chance to visit his father in a secure and safe environment.”

“I appreciate that we were able to agree upon things to simplify a tough situation.

Thank you for helping us compromise.”

“The persons doing the mediation were very nice and understanding. They were sure I understood everything that was being discussed.”

“U guys are perfect. U guys help me a lot. Thank you very much for all ur help. Very good help. You guys explain very good to me. Thanks for everything.”

“[Mediation] was a very helpful process and easy. It benefit[ed] my child because we were able to speak and come to an understanding of what’s best for our child.”

“The mediation was helpful because the mediators were peaceful and nonjudgmental. I like that the mediation is our agreement and the mediators kept us focused on task. The plan stayed focused on the child’s benefit.”

“The mediators were impartial, friendly, and kind. Those traits really helped us to sift through our visitation challenges. You helped us maintain a healthy balance for [our kids].”

“It was very helpful to clarify both sides’ issues without bringing up sensitive points allowing us to create a productive schedule. The beginning was slightly hectic/awkward, but as it went on the team all worked together well. I am very grateful for their time and attention to our issues.”

Dependency Court, Foster & Adoption Mediation and Education Systems

SC Family Mediation Since 2014 =Resources=

This is the right place to begin to succeed with SCFM

Attorneys - How to prepare your parent for mediation

In 25% of cases, our volunteers have cleared their day and a parent is not prepared to mediate.

Possibility of Joining Our Team of Exceptional Mediators

Training Begins July 2023

For Mediation Services Other Than LAC Dependency Court Mediation

Downloadable Documents

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Courthouse (main)

Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center

Pomona Courthouse

Compton Courthouse

Feedback

We are completely self-funded through your generosity and wisdom.

Southern California Family Mediation Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. EIN 81-4881802

Visit Supervisor / Monitor - Resources