Family Court Services

Youth & Family Mediation

Family Court Services’ Youth and Family Mediation Program helps young people and their parents or caregivers resolve their disputes, and helps family members build conflict resolution skills.

Mediation is a time for young people ages 11–18 and their families to come and sit down with trained mediators who can help them talk about their issues and find a workable resolution.

The team of one youth mediator and one adult mediator will help create a safe atmosphere where everyone can discuss their wants, needs and feelings with each other. Mediators help guide the process by facilitating clear and calm communication between the parents and the youth, so that everyone can be heard. Mediators do not give advice or tell you what to do; rather, they help your family come to your own agreements.

Through mediation, parents and youth can:

• Open the doors to communication
• Create a positive environment to make change
• Build trust and understanding through listening
• Turn conflict into cooperation by working together on a resolution.

There are many reasons youth and parents seek mediation, including:

• Communication issues
• Trust issues
• House rules and responsibilities
• Sibling issues
• Curfew and car use
• School attendance and grades
• Foster or step parent relationships
• Dating or sexual activity

Who are the mediators?
What are the mediators’ qualifications?
Is mediation confidential?
What happens at the first session?
What if we need more sessions?
How much does it cost?
How is the program funded?
Do you provide mediation in languages other than English?
How do I Set Up a Mediation Session?
How do I become a mediator with your program?

Who are the mediators?
Family Court Services’ Youth and Family Mediation program uses a mediation team made up of one adult mediator and one youth mediator. These two trained mediators of different age groups help bridge generation gaps and open doors of communication and trust.

What are the mediators’ qualifications?
All of the adult and youth mediators in the program have met the requirements to be Community Mediators under the Oregon Administrative Rules. In addition, they have completed advanced training in Youth and Family Mediation.

Is mediation confidential?
The confidentiality of Youth and Family Mediation is protected by state law. The Youth and Family Mediation Program Coordinator can answer specific questions about confidentiality.

What happens at the first session?
All involved persons come to this session and meet with the mediation team. The mediators will then explain the process, answer questions and begin the mediation. In some cases, this session of mediation can result in a written agreement for the family to take home. The first session is offered free of charge.

What if we need more sessions?
You are always welcome to return for additional sessions. Many families need more time to work through issues and build solid relationships. These sessions are usually scheduled for 1½ hours, and are charged on a sliding fee scale.

How much does it cost?
The first session at Clackamas County Family Court Service is free for Clackamas County residents. Additional sessions are charged on a sliding fee scale from $0–80 per hour.

How is the program funded?
The Youth and Family Mediation Program is made possible through a combination of Family Court Services department funds, grants (including the Oregon Office for Community Dispute Resolution) and fees.

Do you provide mediation in languages other than English?
Yes. We provide youth and family mediation in Spanish.

We provide youth and family mediation through contracted interpreters in ASL and other languages upon request. There is no additional charge to clients for interpretation services.

Please see Servicios en Espanol and our Links page for more information and resources.

How do I Set Up a Mediation Session?
A youth, parent or caregiver can make the first call to Family Court Services at(503) 650-5659. Our front office staff will conduct a brief intake over the telephone, and can answer questions about the service.

Next, you will receive a call from the Youth and Family Mediation Program Coordinator, who will answer any additional questions you may have. The Coordinator may ask you some additional questions, and will make a plan with you about how to contact the other people you wish to participate with in mediation. Then, we will schedule a session date and time with you.

How do I become a mediator with your program?
Please go to Conflict Resolution Training for information about our Specialized Training in Youth and Family Mediation, prerequisite requirements, and application process.