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Certificate in Family Mediation (Intensive)

Certificate in Family Mediation (Intensive)

Gain the skills and experience to confidently mediate family conflict

Next Enrolment

June 10th, September 21st

Tuition

$4,995

Overview

Develop the skills and experience you need to mediate conflict and help families enduring difficult times move forward collaboratively.

What you will learn

Take advantage of Ontario’s only university family mediation program with this intensive Certificate in Family Mediation. You’ll gain the insights and practical experience you need to help families work together to resolve conflict in a practical and safe manner. This program will help you:

  • Prepare to work closely with families to help them resolve disputes, identify fair and reasonable solutions, and strengthen their relationships
  • Reduce families’ emotional stress; ensure an equal voice for all parties; and help form lasting agreements
  • Gain practical mediation experience and develop emotional intelligence

Program Benefits

  • Fulfills training requirements for the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation
  • Learn first-hand from certified and practicing industry-expert coaches and instructors who regularly encounter the types of interpersonal challenges that result from family conflict
  • Participate in experiential learning opportunities, including role-playing sessions, which will allow you to develop your mediation skills and improve your confidence as a new practitioner

Webinars

  • Family Mediation Program Information Webinar [00:58:40] [Watch now]
    Learn more about our Certificate in Family Mediation, including information on courses, instructors, and how to enrol.
    * From 00:29:05, instructor Mary Anne Popescu speaks about the pathways to being a professional family mediator.
  • The Changing Landscape of Family Dispute Resolution in Canada [00:59:06] [Watch now]
    Learn more about how COVID-19 and changes to the Divorce Act have helped to increase access to justice and promote more inclusive dispute resolution practices. Family Law Specialist and program Instructor Archana Medhekar, BSC, LL.B, LL.M, ACC.FM, is the featured speaker in this engaging discussion.
  • How Family Mediation has Changed Since the COVID-19 Crisis [00:02:25] [Watch now]
    Since the pandemic, Family Mediators have experienced drastic changes in how they serve their clients. Hear from our instructor Mary-Anne Popescu on how family mediators still affect positive change in their clients’ lives through online venues.

OSAP-eligible format offered
LEARN MORE

Format: Intensive
Delivery: Live online classes and coaching sessions (4 days per week 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Program Length: 6 weeks
Term Starts: Summer

Part-Time Program: This program is also offered in a fully LIVE  Online Part-Time Format.

Introducing Live Online Learning

 

Career Potential

Professional Associations

The School of Continuing Studies at York University is an approved training provider with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM).

York University’s Family Mediation Certificate meets the training requirements for the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation with OAFM – the largest accrediting body for Family Mediators in Ontario.

More information can be found on the OAFM website.

Get Hired for Jobs Like:
  • Family Mediator
  • Social Worker
  • Child & Youth Worker
Gain These Cross-Functional Skills:
  • Active listening
  • Managing power dynamics
  • Social perceptiveness

Who should take this program?

The Certificate in Family Mediation is ideal for:
  • Professionals currently working in, or considering undertaking, a role related to family conflict
  • Professionals seeking a formal certification to enhance and validate their competency in this area

Many students in this program come from a variety of fields that interact with families, including but not limited to:

    • Law, Paralegal Services
    • Social Work
    • Health Care, Patient Services
    • Teaching, Education Administration
    • Psychology, Counselling, Coaching
    • Financial Services, Business Evaluation, Trust Management
    • Community, Social, and Human Services
    • Newcomer Services
    • Real Estate
    • Youth Justice
    • Mental Health Services
    • Faith Services, Ministry
    • Addiction Services
    • Long-Term Care
    • Victim Services
    • Law Enforcement, Corrections
    • Arbitration
    • Child Protection
    • Public Policy, Government
    • Human Resources

 

Enrolment Requirements

This is a direct registration program. No application process is required; simply enrol in the session of your choice to get started.

Delivery Format

The Certificate in Family Mediation is offered in two formats – part-time and intensive. Please click here to learn more about the part-time program.

Short Intensive – (6 weeks) – Live Online with 3 On-Campus Days (Hybrid)

  • The intensive offering is the same program as the part-time offering, except it is offered during weekdays and weekends over a period of 6 weeks. The intensive offering is for individuals who have substantial time and attention to devote to keeping up with an accelerated delivery model.
  • Regular classes are held Live Online via Zoom at a regularly scheduled day and time
  • Three of the coaching sessions will be held in person on campus
  • Courses are scheduled to run 4 days per week from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and attendance is mandatory. Classes are typically held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, however there are some variations in this schedule to accommodate statutory and major holidays.
  • To view the detailed schedule, please click here for the “Enrol” tab and click on “Course Details +”.
  • The intensive offering is a fast-paced programs for individuals who have substantial time and attention to devote to keeping up with an accelerated delivery model. We do not recommend this delivery model for students who are working full-time.
  • We recommend our part-time format for students who do not bring prior education and/or experience pertaining to families and family conflict.

Courses

CSFM1000 Family Mediation Fundamentals

Participants will learn about the nature of conflict and conflict management, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, negotiation with a focus on the interest-based negotiation model developed by the Harvard Program on Negotiation, and Mediation with an emphasis on facilitative mediation as applied in a family mediation context.

40 Hours

CSFM1020 Family Law

Participants will learn about the law-making systems in place in Canada, the legislative jurisdiction over family law, and the family justice system in Ontario. They will learn of the law pertaining to custody of and access to children, child support, spousal support, and property equalization and division. Participants learn how to search online for legislation, regulations, and reported decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal. They will review statutory and case law. The instructor will demonstrate the use of computer software to determine potential financial support and property outcomes.

4 Classes

21 Hours

CSFM1010 Assessing and Screening for Domestic Violence

Participants will learn how a family mediation is commenced in an initial meeting with the parties. The instructor will inform them about the necessity to screen for domestic violence and power imbalance. The participants will review a precedent Family Mediation Agreement. They will learn how to plan and prepare for a family mediation. Through practice exercises, the participants will learn how to open a mediation, to facilitate the storytelling of the parties, to develop an agenda, and to prepare a Progress Report. In role-plays, they will practice mediating the negotiation and resolution of parenting, child support, spousal support, and property issues. They will learn how to overcome impasse and the use of caucus for this purpose. Participants will review settlement documents and prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. The course concludes with information about the principal family mediation organizations, the services they offer, the benefits of membership including the opportunity to acquire a professional designation, and the codes of ethics and standards of practice they developed and maintain. A variety of learning modalities is used including lecture, demonstrations, interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

CSFM1030 Family Relations

The course in Screening for Domestic Violence and Power Imbalance informs participants of an essential element of the family mediation process required by all of the principal family mediation organizations. The instructor will inform the participants about domestic violence and power imbalance as phenomena that are characteristic of many families. The instructor will provide them with a screening instrument and they will role-play its application. The instructor will review the impact of what participants learn through screening, in particular, whether mediation is appropriate, and if so, those measures a mediator can take to ensure that he or she provides a safe environment. A variety of learning modalities are used including lecture, demonstrations interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

CSFM1040 Advanced Family Mediation

This course is an experiential application of the skills learned throughout the Family Mediation Certificate program. The trainer will combine lecture along with interactive learning activities including role-play to cover topics such as mobility, intergenerational issues, dealing with impasse, conflict analysis, unconscious and implicit bias, culture fluency, working with high-conflict behaviours, management of multiparty situations, drafting, and process design to address power imbalance. The course will include an overall comprehensive look at the mediation process and deepening of the mediator experience will be explored through reflective practice. 

4 Classes

21 Hours

Instructors

Anisa Ali Family Mediation Instructor

Anisa Ali

Dan Ashbourne Family Mediation Instructor

Dan Ashbourne

Kavita Bhagat Family Mediation Instructor

Kavita Bhagat

Neeraj Goel Family Mediation Instructor

Neeraj Goel

Michelle Hayes Family Mediation Instructor

Michelle Hayes

Archana Medhekar Family Mediation Instructor

Archana Medhekar

Jonathan_Paynter_Family_Mediation_Coach

Jonathan Paynter

Mary-Anne-Popescu Family Mediation Instructor

Mary-Anne Popescu

Vicky Ringuette Family Mediation Instructor

Vicky Ringuette

Ivana Vaccaro Family Mediation Instructor

Ivana Vaccaro

Coaches

Candice Bernard photo

Candice Bernard

Pam Broley photo

Pamela Broley

Gail Brochu photo

Gail Brochu

Tonya Brock

Tonya Brock

Tiago Campos photo

Tiago Campos

Mary_Chakasim

Mary Chakasim

Jennifer_Curry_Instructor_FamilyMediation

Jennifer Curry

Raheena_Lalani_Dahya_Instructor_Dispute_Resolution

Raheena Lalani Dahya

Jim Doxtdator photo

Jim Doxtdator

Mardi-Edelstein profile picture

Mardi Edelstein

Caroline Felstiner Family Mediation Coach

Caroline Felstiner

Gregg Fenten image

Gregg Fenten

Mandy Fowler Family Mediation Coach

Mandy Fowler

Hayley Glaholt photo

Hayley Glaholt

Kim Goldstein

Kim Goldstein

Kam Lovel photo

Kam Lovel

Indu Khatri

Alison McArthur

Instructor Amrit Malhotra

Amrit Malhotra

Jared Norton photo

Jared Norton

Angela Pickard photo

Angela Pickard

Indu Khatri

Claudette Riley

Sandra Southwind photo

Sandra Southwind

Avagene_Skervin_Family_Mediation_Coach

Avagene Skervin

Borzou image

Borzou Tabrizi

Trish Thomas photo

Trish Thomas

Daniella_Wald

Daniella Wald

Events & Webinars

Certificate in Family Mediation (Intensive)

Summer 2024

Intensive
(Live Online Classes)

Course Details +

$4,995.00

Certificate in Family Mediation

Fall 2024

Online

Course Details +

$4,995.00

Policies & More Information

Technology Requirements for Remote/Online Courses

Please review the technology and software requirements you will need to access our courses remotely.

Transfer Credit & Course Exemption Policy – Family Mediation Certificate

York University’s Certificate in Family Mediation will consider the following course exemptions:

CSFM1020 Family Law: Practicing family lawyers may be exempt if requested before program start.

CSFM1030 Family Relations: Registered Social Workers with extensive and recent training and experience with families may be exempt if requested before program start.

Please be advised that requests for exemption must be sent to cpehelp@yorku.ca before the start of the first course in the program, being CSFM1000 Family Mediation Fundamentals. Exemption requests received after this date will not be considered.

Course Exemption

Please review the requirements from OAFM (the Ontario Associate for Family Mediation) when considering an exemption request. Please note that these requirements for exemption will apply at the time when you apply for your accreditation.

OAFM: See “FIVE COURSES REQUIRED” section

As CSFM1020-Family Law and CSFM1030-Family Relations are official components of this accredited program, should a student wish to pursue an exemption, it is the full responsibility of the student to confirm with OAFM or the accrediting body for any other designation that the student may wish to pursue that the criteria for the designation at the time of application will still be met. York University School of Continuing Studies bears no responsibility in this respect.

Attendance Policy – Family Mediation Certificate

Please note that due to the accelerated nature of the Family Mediation Certificate, attendance is of paramount importance. In order to be eligible to receive the Certificate, full attendance and participation is necessary. This includes but is not limited to punctuality and arriving for class on time, remaining present for the duration of every class, responding when called upon, keeping your camera turned on during Zoom classes, and consistently participating actively and meaningfully each day.

In the event that you are unable to attend class, please email your instructor at the earliest opportunity, along with the SCS Office at cpehelp@yorku.ca. Valid documentation for any absences must be provided in a timely manner. Assuming that valid documentation is provided and approved by the Instructor and/or Administration, the student may be provided an extra assignment to complete if it is determined that the learning outcomes can still be achieved.

Please be advised that due to the accelerated delivery model of this Certificate, should a student miss more than one class in a course, the entirety of the course will need to be repeated at some future date. Hands-on practice is an essential component of the Family Mediation Certificate and therefore, should a student miss part or all of a coaching session for any reason, the student may be required to make up the entirety of that coaching session or the entirety of the course in a future offering. These determinations will be reached by the Instructor in advisement with the Administration. If there is not sufficient documentation to justify the absence(s), the course make-up will be at the student’s expense.

Contact Us

Ask us anything about this program and we’ll get back to you within 2 business days.