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Child
Protection Mediation
"Sometimes
trying to get things moving with the CAS is like kicking a rock. You
just get a sore foot. When the mediator got involved, things started to
happen and we were able to work out a plan" (former
client)
What
is Child Protection Mediation?
The
Mediation Centre can help families develop plans for their children
which address the concerns raised by a Children's Aid Society. Child
Protection Mediation is one of the prescribed methods of Alternative
Dispute Resolution under Bill 210, which amended the Child Welfare
Legislation in Ontario in 2006. It is a process where the CAS worker
and the family and any other person putting forward or proposing to
participate in a plan for the child, work with a trained and impartial
child protection mediator, who has no decision making power. The child
protection mediator assists the
participants in reaching an agreement on the issues in dispute, in
generating options for resolving their disagreements and in developing
a mutually acceptable plan that addresses the protection concerns
identified.
How
does Child Protection Mediation Work?
Child
protection mediation
in a situation where there is a child protection concern, requires that
all of the parties consent to participate in the child protection
mediation process. The
child protection mediator then meets each of the parties individually
to gain a clear
understanding of the issues from each of their perspectives. Joint
child protection mediation appointments are held to allow the
participants and the CAS
worker to address the issues raised and to develop a plan for the
children that is satisfactory to all the parties.
Child Protection Mediation Referral Form
What
are the Advantages of Child Protection Mediation?
The
child protection mediation process is confidential and nothing said or
produced in
child protection mediation can be used in court with the exception of
the child protection mediator's
summary of any agreement reached. The child protection mediation can
address a broad
range of child protection concerns from custody and access arrangements
between high conflict parents or other family members, terms of a
supervision order, long term planning for children in care, in kinship
arrangements or in proposed adoption families. The child protection
mediation process
can also be available to families through out their contact with the
children's aid society, whether at the very beginning stages of
involvement, during court action or as follow up to plans made.
"
I can't believe that we sat around this table and actually listened to
each other. Now we can all be focused on what is best for our child."
The
Mediation Centre can assist families in which there is a child
protection concern in any Childrens Aid Society in Ontario.
This
service is funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. All
of the child protection mediators at the Mediation Centre are
accredited Family
Mediators of the Ontario Association of Family Mediation (OAFM) and are
Child Protection Roster Mediators on the Ontario Child Protection
Mediation Roster.
Suggested
Links:
The
Mediation Centre - 46
Jackson St. East, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 1L1
Voice:
905-526-8446 | Fax: 905-526-8580 | e-mail: centre@mediation.on.ca
Web site and all contents © Copyright Mediation
Centre 2005, All rights
reserved.
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