Parenting Coordinator Specialty

All RFMs must meet one of the following four education and experience descriptions:

1.   A Law degree or a Master-level degree in one of the following: Psychology, Social Work, Education, Mediation, Conflict Resolution or other related field (such as Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Nursing, Religion, Philosophy);

plus

25 hours of mediation experience; or

2.   Bachelor-level degree in one of the following: Psychology, Social Work, Education, Mediation, Conflict Resolution or other related field (such as Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Nursing, Religion, Philosophy

plus

minimum 100-hour Conflict Resolution Training with Skills Assessment* and/or two Letters of Reference**

plus

25 hours of mediation experience; or

3.   Bachelor-level degree (in anything) or related Diploma (Social Work, Education, Corrections, Paralegal) plus Minimum 200-hour Conflict Resolution Training with Skills Assessment* and/or two Letters of Reference**

plus

75 hours of mediation experience (co-mediating, shadowing a qualified mediator, volunteer mediation, mentorship); or

4.   Minimum 250-hour Conflict Resolution Training with Skills Assessment* and/or two Letters of Reference**

plus

100 hours of mediation experience.

Mediators who also practice collaborative law may use their collaborative law experience to maintain their RFM status but must initially qualify for this designation by undertaking mediation cases.

*A program with Skills Assessment would be a role play, exam and/or evaluation.

**From a professional in a related field; must use provided form.

 

In addition to, or as part of, the above qualifications, all Registered Family Mediators must have completed generic conflict resolutions courses, totalling a minimum of 40 hours, which have covered all of the following areas:

• Conflict Resolution 
• Negotiation 
• Communication 
• Interest-based Mediation 
• Mediation Skills

 

(Please note that AFMS puts on a 40 hour Basic Mediation course but courses from many other institutions are suitable.  The Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) course "Mediation of Family & Divorce Conflicts" is NOT a Basic Mediation course but is instead considered "Specialized Training" often used as part of Registered Family Mediator (RFM) membership qualifications.  All levels of mediator membership with AFMS require a Basic Mediation course.)

All RFMs applying for a specialty in Parenting Coordination must complete an additional 40 hours of specialized training covering all of the following:

• 20 hours of Parenting Coordination training, that includes: role of a PC, jurisdiction, contracts, agreements, theory, approaches

• Skills Assessment* and/or two Letters of Reference**

• Another 20 hours covering the following:

• Advanced mediation skills

• Advanced communication skills

• Advanced negotiation skills

• Screening for family violence/partner abuse and power imbalances

• Child stages and development as related to separation and divorce and high conflict family dynamics

• Parenting Plans (theories, approaches, such as: co-parenting and parallel parenting, to utilize communication and scheduling plans)

• Interviewing children (approaches, forms)

• Child(ren)’s rights/voice of the child 

• Child support

• Provincial and Federal Legislation, case law as it applies to parenting issues

• High conflict mediation

• Cultural awareness / sensitivity

• Inclusivity / diversity 

• Drafting reports

• Parenting After Separation (PAS) program

• High Conflict (PASHC) program

• Knowledge and application of AFMS Code of Professional Conduct and ethics/liabilities and standards of practice

*A program with Skills Assessment would be a role play, exam and/or evaluation.

**From a professional in a related field; must use provided form. 

RFM-PC candidates must submit copies of three (3) real mediation reports/case summaries (with identifying details omitted) demonstrating the results of Parenting Coordination mediations. These reports should, between them, demonstrate a knowledge and competency in dealing with common issues arising in high conflict parenting situations as listed above.  

It is AFMS policy that our mediators do not prepare mediation reports or agreements for client signature. The reports should have a clear indication that the provisional agreements reached by the clients are subject to their obtaining independent legal advice (ILA) and will be non-binding until incorporated into a formal signed agreement. Reports should be signed by the mediator.

Please note that the results of Collaborative Law files do not qualify as Mediation Reports/Case Summaries.

All RFMs must submit evidence of applicable malpractice insurance coverage for Alberta.

All RFMs specializing in the area of Parenting must complete a minimum of 50 hours of mediation per year in this area. (Please note that Collaborative Law files qualify for the activity requirement.)

In addition, RFMs must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education in this specialty area every two years.