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Families First Forum - Strong Consensus at Inaugural Meeting

 

The inaugural meeting of the Families First Forum took place on 1 December 2009. The initiative, instigated by the MII, provides a forum for key people and services to consider the options and facilities available to separating couples , and to consider additional supports and initiatives to enable those involved to make informed decisions on a broader range of options for resolvingthe issues.

In the following article, Claire Kearney, MII Family Mediation Liaison Officer, outlines the parameters and key findings of the discussions on the day.

 

 

  1. Introduction
  2. Forum Findings
  3. Next Steps

 

Introduction

The meeting of 1 December 2009 was well supported with representatives in attendance from Government Departments, the Judiciary, the Legal Aid Board, the Family Support Agency, the legal profession, service providers and support groups. The Forum considered the current system in relation to separating couples, their needs and the needs of their families, the gaps in the system and how these might be addressed.

MII President, Karen Erwin, opened the meeting and introduced the topics and questions to be covered. She questioned whether the current system is failing separating couples: despite the fact that solicitors are obliged, by law, to inform their clients of the benefits of mediation, in 2006 only 3% of applications to the family courts had had any involvement in mediation. Karen noted that mediation is an effective, cheaper and flexible process for dispute resolution and that we, as service providers, owe it to separating couples to design a process that places them at its centre and more effectively supports them in making informed decisions in relation to their situations and to those of their families.

The participants broke into four working groups to discuss some of the key issues facing families in dispute. Each group fed back in relation to the following questions:

  1. What do separating couples need?
  2. Which of these needs are currently being met?
  3. Where are the gaps?
  4. What are the areas we can work on together?

Forum Findings

There was a strong consensus from the groups in their feedback both in relation to the needs of separating couples and the gaps in the current system. Key feedback points included:

Q1: What do separating couples need?

  1. Access to information on the range of services for separating couples, preferably through an information centre or service, to enable families to make an informed decision in how best to manage their separation.
  2. Enhanced access to client-centred, accessible and cost effective services such as mediation.

Q.2: Which of these are currently being met?

  1. The legal profession provides a service but is often seen as the only option for separating couples, underlying the need for a better understanding of mediation and other options available to families.
  2. There is some good information available.
  3. Private, well-trained and accredited Mediators are readily available throughout the country through the MII website.

Q.3: Where are the gaps?

  1. There is no integrated information centre or website that covers the full range of options for separating couples.
  2. Mediation is not fully understood or explained, and so is often not considered as a professional alternative to the law.
  3. Legislation may be required to support mandatory information sessions about mediation.
  4. The judiciary may benefit from additional training in the benefits of mediation.
  5. More collaboration between Mediators and solicitors and other service providers.
  6. More funding and better use of present resources, e.g. means-testing and sliding scale arrangements for Family Mediation Service users.
  7. A more comprehensive continuum of services, including mediation.
  8. Public services are not always accessible or time sensitive.
  9. Lack of statistics available with the exception of Carol Coulter’s findings (of 26,000 applications to the family courts only 3 % had any involvement in Mediation.)

Q.4: How might these gaps be addressed?

  1. Stakeholders coming together to provide an information centre representing all services and options available in a professional and timely manner throughout the entire country. This may include a website, information packs and referrals.
  2. Promoting legislation to require a mandatory information session on mediation given by an accredited Mediator.
  3. Co-ordination and gathering of statistics and research so that services can be improved and updated.
  4. Review of what public services are offering and how they can co-ordinate and complement each other in a more efficient and satisfying manner.

Next Steps

Given the large attendance at the meeting, the level of participation and the wide range of issues emerging, it was agreed that the MII would reflect on the issues raised and consider the most appropriate way to progress them.

A report of the initial meeting has been circulated to the attendees of the Forum.

If you have any queries, please contact Claire Kearney, MII Family Mediation Liaison Officer.

February 2010

 

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