California law mandates that parents receive an opportunity to reach mutual agreement about their child's care and control before a family court judge has the power to impose a custody arrangement. In Los Angeles County, neutral mental health professionals through Family Court Services work to help parents talk about possible plans for their children. Parents must attend, but do not have to reach an agreement. Mediated outcomes tend to be better for families over the long run, and mediation is most effective when parents understand the process, and have spent time preparing in advance for their session.

In order to best help our clients maximize this opportunity, Levitt & Quinn began offering a free custody mediation preparation class. Led by Levitt & Quinn supporter and volunteer Jennifer Winestone, this workshop offers clients the opportunity to understand their rights and responsibilities in mediation, and how it can help them to achieve child-centered outcomes. "I am thrilled to be working with Levitt & Quinn to help educate clients about the benefits of mediation, tools for preparing for mediation, and what they can expect from the process itself," said Jennifer.

We launched this class with Jennifer to give our clients - as well as members of the community who may not already be clients - the knowledge and tools to thoughtfully engage with the other parent around issues of custody and visitation. This includes tools to help our clients manage conflict and stay focused on achieving the best possible outcomes. We want to see them enter into mediation feeling confident in their ability to make decisions regarding their child's parenting plan. "Mediation is a process that helps parties take control of their conflict, and more importantly, their resolution," Jennifer went on to say. "For families in dispute, the process is invaluable."