Jun 20

Multi-Party Mediation in the Child Welfare System: Thinking Outside the Box

Learn about the benefits of Florida dependency court mediation, the role of the mediator, and how to "think outside the box".

For all parties participating in the mediation process in Florida dependency court. This presentation will involve only the state of Florida's Mediation Dependency Court process.

Virtual location

You will receive a confirmation email with a URL.

Jun 20, 2025 12:00pm ET - Jun 20, 2025 02:00pm ET

Free

Training Description:

Learn about the benefits of dependency court mediation, the role of the mediator, and how to "think outside the box" when mediating complex multi-party disputes, especially concerning children and families involved in the child protection system due to allegations of child neglect, abandonment, or abuse. Discover how Dependency Mediation can reduce barriers to communication, diffuse conflict, and influence the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, their families, and those professionals who serve to protect them.

The conversation will be led by Michelle Artman-Smith, 12th Judicial Circuit ADR Director, and Kathy

Brown, Dependency Mediator and conflict resolution professional.

Takeaways:

When to use mediation to resolve conflict in child protection cases
What are the benefits of child protection mediation?
How to obtain an order of referral to dependency mediation
What are permanency goals?
What is the dependency case management flowchart?
Difference between termination of parental rights and voluntary surrender
Post-adoption contact agreements: the benefits and important considerations
Early Childhood Court Program
Parenting Partnerships in Family-Centered Practice

Presenters:

Michelle Artman-Smith

Michelle Artman Smith is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Director for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida and oversees the circuit’s court mediation services. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2004. Michelle is an active Florida Supreme Court Certified County, Family, and Dependency Mediator. Prior to her current employment with the State of Florida, Michelle practiced Family Law in Tampa, Florida. She began her employment with the 12th Judicial Circuit as the Family Court Manager, spearheading many court improvement projects and initiatives. Michelle served as a member of the Florida Supreme Court Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee from August 2012, until June 2016, and she is currently appointed as a member of the Mediator Qualifications & Discipline Review Board for the Central Division of Florida. Additionally, she serves as an assistant trainer and role-play critiquer for the Florida Supreme Court approved Dependency and Family mediation certification training provider, My Florida Mediator.

Kathy G. Brown

As a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator, Kathy mediates county, family and dependency cases in several Judicial Circuit Courts in Florida. She is passionate about creating safe spaces to help people find their own solutions to internal and external conflict. Kathy also leads interactive Authentic Communication Groups that practice conflict resolution in real time, with tools that include Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model as it is used in the dispute resolution setting. Kathy was also a journalist for 10 years, a parenting consultant, and co-founder of an educational program that catered to individual learning styles.