The OAFM has been accrediting Ontario’s family mediators for many years. An OAFM accreditation is necessary for anyone wanting to provide court-connected mediation services in any of Ontario’s Family Courts, or anyone providing child protection mediation services.
The requirements for OAFM accreditation are:
- a University degree or FMC certification or proof of extensive professional experience in mediation or a closely associated field (minimum of 10 years)
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Complete Sixty hours of family mediation education. This must include:
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A 40 hour family mediation training course taught by an OAFM accredited mediator or approved by the OAFM. The family mediation training course must include a minimum of five hours in each of the following categories:
- Conflict resolution theories;
- Psychological issues in separation, divorce, family dynamics, and power imbalances;
- Issues and needs of children in separation and divorce;
- Mediation process and techniques including role play;
- Family Law including custody, support, asset evaluation and distribution, taxation as it relates to separation and divorce; and
- Family economics (not required if the basic training is limited to custody mediation).
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- 20 further hours of skills development training, which can be taken in the form of an advanced training, workshops or conferences.
- Completion of 14 hours of training in screening for power imbalances, including domestic violence and abuse or have taught such a course themselves.
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Relevant personal experience is needed as well as in-service experience
- Those applicants who have a law degree or a graduate degree must provide proof (i.e. letter from supervisor, peer references) of a minimum two years of relevant experience in human service.
- Applicants who do not have a law degree or a graduate degree must provide proof of a minimum of six years of relevant work experience in human service.
- Applicants who do not have a university degree must provide proof of a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in human services
- Submit a minimum of five (5) family related cases mediated to the point of agreement.
- The mediator should consult with or be supervised by an OAFM Accredited Family Mediator for a minimum of one hundred hours including five cases mediated to point of agreement. The consultation could include: co-mediation; supervision; and peer consultation.
- The applicant must submit letter(s) from Acc.F.M. (O.A.F.M.) mediator(s) confirming co-mediation, supervision, and/or peer consultation of required one hundred (100) hours including five (5) cases mediated to point of agreement; and SUBMIT the 5 contracts to mediate which indicate the working relationship with the clients for the cases in (2) above.
- A minimum of $1,000,000 of mediator professional liability insurance.
- 10 hours of relevant education must be completed each year in order to maintain accreditation status.
The Costs
- Associate Member
$125 a year (must be an associate member for a certain number of years in order to be accepted as an Acc. FM. - Accredited Family Mediator Application
$300 non-refundable processing fee; $250 annual fee.
Who to contact for more information
Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM)
P.O. Box 433
Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P5
Toll Free: 1-800-989-3025
Fax: 1-866-352-1579
E-Mail: oafm@oafm.on.ca
Please visit www.oafm.on.ca for more information.
To look at the requirements needed to become an Accredited Family Mediator please go to http://oafm.on.ca/mediators/AccFM%20Criteria.html
To go to the application form to apply for the OAFM Accredited Family Mediator please go to http://oafm.on.ca/mediators/OAFMAccFMApplicationForm.pdf
What courses can I take that are endorsed by the OAFM?
The OAFM does not endorse specific courses. They recommend you contact the course director and make sure it is accredited by the organization.
