Domestic violence is a complex issue, raising a number of concerns for mediators and parties. Over the years, there’s been considerable debate as to whether cases involving domestic violence should be mediated and what the role of a neutral is when domestic violence is revealed during the course of a mediation session.
Julia’s dynamic workshop will explore these issues, and include examples of promising practices addressing how mediators can approach these potentially dangerous and all too common situations, reduce risk, increase safety, and facilitate sessions.
Julia’s workshop will also address why domestic violence should matter to mediators no matter what cases professionals are handling; offer some key screening questions and info to provide parties; identify when safety and control planning might be appropriate; and offer examples of what mediators can do to become more aware of how our own biases can impact how we approach these issues.
From Julia’s workshop, you will understand:
- The definitions of domestic violence under California law and in the field generally
- Why domestic violence is a risk for parties and mediators and how to reduce some of those risks
- How to proceed with mediation with precautions and/or make appropriate referrals as part of safety and control planning with parties.
