Dependency mediation involves facilitating the resolution of
disputes in child abuse, neglect, and abandonment cases
including dependency, termination of parental rights, and
foster care issues. In Florida, the participants in a dependency
mediation conference can include the parents, representatives
of the Department of Children and Families, guardian ad
litem for the child, other family members, foster parents,
possibly the child, and attorneys representing the abovementioned mediation participants. This 40-hour program is
approved by the Florida Supreme Court.
Continuing
Education Credits
This course is approved by the Florida Bar (#17227) for 48
general CLER credits, including 5.5 hours of ethics.
The University of South Florida College of Public Health is an
approved provider (BAP#433 – Exp. 3/31/09) of continuing
education credits for clinical social work, marriage and family
therapy, and mental health counseling. This program has been
reviewed and approved for up to 48, 50-minute contact hours.
The University of South Florida College of Medicine is
approved by the American Psychological Association to
sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The
University of South Florida College of Medicine maintains
responsibility for this program and its content. This activity is
offered for up to 40 hours of continuing education credit.
The University of South Florida College of Medicine is
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing
Medical Education to provide continuing medical education
for physicians.
The University of South Florida College of Medicine designates
this educational activity for a maximum of 40 AMA PRA
Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit
commensurate with the extent of their participation in the
activity.
The University of South Florida College of Nursing is accredited
as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American
Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity is for 40 contact hours.
Location
The course will be held on the Tampa Campus of the University of South Florida. Exact location and directions will be sent with registration confirmation. For help with directions, call 813-974-4296 during regular working hours or check the official USF parking maps.
Gregory Firestone, Ph.D.,
is Director of the
USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative and Vice Chair of the
Florida Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules
and Policy Committee. He has been a practicing mediator
for more than twenty years and is an Advanced Practitioner
Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution; a practicing
Florida Supreme Court certified family, dependency,
and county court mediator; and a licensed psychologist. Dr.
Firestone serves on the Editorial Board of Family Court
Review and has previously served on the Boards of
Directors of the Academy of Family Mediators and the
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. He is Past President of the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family
and Conciliation Courts and recipient of the 2002
Association for Conflict Resolution Presidential Award. Dr.
Firestone has lectured and published widely in the field of
mediation and is coauthor of Mediation Works: Make it Work
for You, a family mediation orientation video produced by
the Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center.
Additional
Faculty
Stevie Buck, M.S., is Director of the Mediation
Program in the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida. She is a
certified dependency, family, and county court mediator.
Martha Coulter, Ph.D., is a Professor in the
USF College of Public Health, Department of Community
and Family Health and serves as Director of the James
and Jennifer Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence.
She is a Florida Supreme Court certified family mediator
and has published extensively on child abuse and neglect
and domestic violence.
Wesley Pardue, Esq., is a family law attorney and
a certified family mediator with the law firm of Knox and
Givens, P.A. in Tampa, Florida. Previously, Mr. Pardue has
served as a General Master in the Family Law Division of the
13th Judicial Circuit and as a Chief Trial Attorney for the
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.
Mr. Pardue has also participated in the development of
dependency mediation rules later adopted by the Florida
Supreme Court.
Registration
Registration Fees: $925 by April 14th - $975 after April 14th
Register at least 10 days prior to class start date for $925; after that the fee is
$975 (includes refreshments). No refunds within one week of class start date. If
you withdraw at least one week prior to class start date, a $25 administrative fee
will be charged. Substitutions allowed until one day prior. Enrollment is limited
to 40 participants.
The University reserves the right to cancel any programs in
which case fees are fully refunded. This course meets the Florida Supreme
Court training standards for certification as a dependency mediator. There are
additional requirements for certification by the Florida Supreme Court which are
described in the Florida Rules for Certified and Court Appointed Mediators (see How to become a Mediator --PDF). Registration is reserved for individuals who possess a
master’s or doctorate (e.g., Ph.D., J.D., M.D., Ed.D., LL.M) degree. Individuals
with a bachelor's degree who have either five years mediation experience or
a graduate certificate in conflict resolution may also register. Others may
enroll with the permission of the instructor.
The number of course participants
is limited. If you register less than 10 days before the course begins,
please call (813) 974-4296 to verify that space is available and to receive special
instructions regarding registration and payment of your registration fee. A
confirmation letter will be sent upon receipt of your registration and payment.
No registration is confirmed without full payment.
The University of South Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Equal/Access/Affirmative Action Institution. If reasonable accommodations
of a disability is needed, call 813-974-4296 at least ten working
days in advance of the event to make arrangements. Persons with
hearing impairments should contact the ADA Coordinator by using
the Florida Dual Party Relay System at 1-800-955-8770 (voice) or
1-800-955-8771 (TDD).
USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative
The USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative offers
Family, Circuit Civil, and Dependency Mediation certification
training programs which are approved by the Florida
Supreme Court and approved by the Florida Bar for
CLER. Certification courses meet the Florida Supreme
Court training requirement for certification as a
mediator in the respective areas. Additional requirements
for mediator certification by the Florida Supreme
Court are described in the Florida Rules for Certified
and Court- Appointed Mediators. Call 850/921-2910
for mediation certification requirements.
For More Information E-mail
or call CPE at 813/974-4296.
