Child Protection Mediation Model Mediator Competencies

Authors

Kelly Browe Olson Co-editor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of LawFollow

Publication Date

2019

Abstract

The inspiration to develop “Child Protection Mediation Model Mediator Competencies” arose from the work completed on “The Guidelines for Child Protection Mediation,” referred to in this document as, “The Guidelines.” “The Guidelines” were developed by a diverse group of experts in the field of child protection mediation (CPM) who are members of the Child Welfare Collaborative Decision-Making Network (CWCDMN) convened under the auspices of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). “The Guidelines” have been adopted by the AFCC and endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

These “Child Protection Mediation Model Mediator Competencies” are based on a CWCDMN workgroup review of the portion of “The Guidelines” that addresses “Mediator Recruitment and Training.” It was determined that delineating the skills and proficiencies that an effective child protection mediator should possess is an important foundational antecedent to the development of CPM training. As such, these competencies represent what CPM programs should expect their mediators to know and what the mediators should be able to do in the mediations.

The model competencies described here identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities of effective CPM mediators. Training is critical to the development of CPM mediators and these model competencies provide a roadmap to create and deliver quality training with the goal that a skilled mediator will demonstrate these competencies on a regular and consistent basis.

Document Type

Guide

Recommended Citation

Child Protection Mediation (CPM) Model Mediator Competencies (Kelly Browe Olson, Laura Bassein, Gregory Firestone, Marilou Giovannucci & Susan Storcel eds., 2019).