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Gain the skills and experience to confidently mediate family conflict
In our part-time Certificate in Family Mediation, you will gain the insights, skills, and practical experience to help families work together to resolve conflict in a practical and safe manner. This program will help you:
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.
Part-Time Program:
Format: Part-Time
Delivery: Live online classes and coaching sessions (12 weekends, Sat & Sun 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Program Length: 6 months
Term Starts: Fall, Winter
Summer Intensive Program:
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
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.
Many students in this program come from a variety of fields that interact with families, including but not limited to:
This is a direct registration program. No application process is required; simply enrol in the session of your choice to get started.
The Certificate in Family Mediation is offered in two formats – part-time and intensive. Please click here to learn more about the intensive format.
Note: Classes are typically held every other weekend, however there are some variations in this schedule to accommodate statutory and major holidays.
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.
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.
This course covers essential elements within and throughout the family mediation process that all family mediators must be fully attuned to. The instructor will inform participants about domestic violence and power imbalance as phenomena that are characteristic of many families and how to screen and assess readiness and appropriateness for mediation. The instructor will provide participants with a screening instrument and they will role-play its application to safety planning within the context of family mediation. A variety of learning modalities are used including lecture, group discussions, exercises, and role-play.
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.
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, cultural fluency, working with high-conflict behaviors, 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.
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.
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.
Ask us anything about this program and we’ll get back to you within 2 business days.