Child-Inclusive Mediation Training
with Lisa Parkinson
This 40-hour online training programme focuses on the additional competencies (knowledge and skills) that accredited family mediators need to have in order to be qualified to talk with a child or young person whose parents or carers are taking part in mediation.
This is an online training programme that includes pre-course reading and a pre-course assignment (which other mediators have reported on very positively). There will be a series of 4 hour workshops that will include role-plays in small groups (in English). Participants on the course will need to demonstrate their competencies in their written work and in role-plays in order to qualify for a Certificate in Child-Inclusive Mediation (ChiM).
Key topics in this training include:
The suitability of children taking part in mediation
especially when their parents are in conflict. Surely this would increase the child's anxiety and fears of causing trouble? Is there an age limit for including a child in mediation, eg aged 10 or above? What are the pre-conditions?
Consideration of different options
such as whether the same mediator should meet with a child and their parents, or use a different mediator? Should siblings be seen together and/or separately?
Knowledge and skills to meet with children and young people in widely varying circumstances
to understand their reactions to separation and divorce, appreciate cultural differences and to have the skills to engage with children, build their trust and enable them to express their views and concerns.
Parents' willingness to listen to their children's messages
Are there risks of a difficult message from a child causing more conflict between their parents?
This sounds very challenging – do ChiM mediators report many difficulties and failures?
-> No, ChiM mediators say this is the best part of the work they do! Research shows that including children in mediation appropriately, in carefully planned ways, has significant benefits for children, parents/carers and for the family as a whole.
The Facilitators
Lisa Parkinson
trainer
This training will be given by Lisa Parkinson, UK, author of Family Mediation (4th edition 2020) and Conversations with Young People in Mediation (February 2024). Lisa co-founded the first family mediation service in the UK in 1978 and the Family Mediators Association in 1988, working as an accredited mediator and as FMA's director of training. She has given ChiM training in Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine, as well as in the UK, and has taken part in international conferences on children, separation/divorce and family mediation.
Fedoua Ait-Baha
facilitator
Hi! My name is Fedoua Ait-Baha, I am a family mediator with a legal background. My mission is to assist parents and children during separation and divorce. I am honored to be working and learning from Lisa Parkinson and I’m very excited to be facilitating this important in-depth training about how to include children during the mediations. Looking forward to working with you all!
Despina Konstantinidou
facilitator
Hi ,I am Despina Konstantinidou. Most of you already know me as a member of MiKK’sinternational family mediators. I practice law in Thessaloniki Greece specialized in family and workplace mediation . I consider myself very lucky to participate in this Child Inclusive Mediation Program with Lisa Parkinson . And I also feel very excited to work with Fee Aitbaha for the organization of this training. I am sure you will enjoy it too!
Additional information about this training:
The UN Convention 1989 on the Rights of the Child states in Article 12 that children have the right to be consulted on decisions and arrangements and for their views to be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
The Brussels II Revised Regulation upholds the child’s right to be heard in matters relating to parental responsibility for the child (Brussels II Revised Regulation, November 2003, Art 4).
The Council of Europe’s Guidelines on Child-Friendly Justice 2010 state that the child’s right to be heard should be guaranteed both in court and out-of-court proceedings (Council of Europe Guidelines on Child-Friendly Justice 2010, IV, para 26)
Recognition of the child’s right to be heard does not mean that the child’s voice is actually heard in practice. Children are often left on the sidelines, in court and out of court, without being informed or consulted. In a recent study, over half the respondents aged 11 to 18 said they did not know they had the right to be consulted. 74% said they did not know where to seek help when they needed it. Children need information and reassurance in order to talk freely, and adults need to listen to what children say. This does not mean giving children responsibility for choices and decisions. It means taking children's feelings and suggestions into account in working out family arrangements that are agreed by all concerned.
Course Fee & Sign Up
The fee for the training is €200. This can be paid on Sustainable Solutions IBAN: BE28737056742720. Please mention your full name. The fee must be paid before the 10th of January 2025.
All course fees will be donated to charities for children with cancer (www.lampsi.org).
Please complete the attached application form if you would like to take the course and send the completed form by the 10th of January 2025.
Course Dates & Timeline
This is an online training programme that includes pre-course reading and a pre-course assignment (which other mediators have reported on very positively). There will be a series of 4 hour workshops that will include role-plays in small groups (in English). Participants on the course will need to demonstrate their competencies in their written work and in role-plays in order to qualify for a Certificate in Child-Inclusive Mediation (ChiM).