Standards
Our Standards outline the responsibilities required of all our members, Accredited Family Mediators (AccFM), Accredited Elder Mediators (AccEM) and accredited Child Protection Mediators (CPMed).
In times of family conflict, clients need to know that their interests, privacy and safety are protected in the mediation process. Our standards govern the relationship between family mediators and clients, the public and any other professionals involved to ensure a safe and appropriate process.
Through the Standards of Practice and our accredited designations, we have defined the integrity, obligations and knowledge required to properly conduct Family, Intergenerational and Child Protection Mediations.
The Standards of Practice describe the fundamental qualities that all mediators must adhere to, including proper conduct and competence, confidentiality, fairness, understanding and domestic violence screening.
Our Policy on Intimate Partner Violence and Power Imbalances further details how Accredited Mediators screen for intimate partner violence and issues that require adjustments to the family mediation process. The vulnerability and volatility inherent in family conflict demand the highest level of consideration which should be standard for all Family Mediation practitioners. Our standards allow families to entrust their futures to the Family Mediation process.
Standards of Practice
The OAFM Standards of Practice is an organization wide agreement created to give Ontario’s Family Mediators a code of conduct and standard of professionalism. It details the priorities that all Family Mediators should have and governs the relationship between practitioners, their clients and other professionals.
All OAFM Members must agree and abide by the standards of practice as a part of their terms of being a member. It protects the principles and integrity of Family Mediation and the interests of those who voluntarily participate in our organization.
Intimate Partner Violence & Power Imbalances
OAFM and its members abide by a strict policy on verbal and physical abuse between mediation participants, especially when children are involved. Our policy was created in 1994 after meeting with numerous organizations and professionals involved in domestic violence, and women and children’s advocacy.
Accredited Family Mediators are specially trained to recognize volatile situations with, or with the potential of, domestic violence and can advise individuals accordingly. Family Mediation should not be applied in cases of domestic abuse unless the Family Mediator is further qualified in these special cases.
Ontario Association for Family Mediation Complaints and Discipline Policy
The purpose of this Policy is:
a) to establish a procedure to receive, consider, investigate, and adjudicate upon,
complaints of breach of OAFM’s by-laws or Standards of Practice and Code of
Ethics;
b) to provide a clear, fair, and effective mechanism for resolution of such complaints;
c) to provide an opportunity for a Member and mediation client to understand the
events and circumstances that led to the complaint being lodged; and,
d) to maintain a standard of competence and adherence to the Standards of Practice
and Code of Ethics of the Organization by its Accredited and Associate Members.
The provisions of this Policy and the procedure contained herein in no way limit or affect the right of any person to exercise their rights under the Human Rights Code RSO 1990, c. H.19.