Lakeshore Family Mediation
Parenting Plans-Voice of the Child Reports-Family Mediation
Lakeshore Family Mediation
Parenting Plans-Voice of the Child Reports-Family Mediation
Carolyn Brown, B.A. Acc.FM (OAFM)
Carolyn is a Family Mediator accredited with the Ontario Association of Family Mediators since 2019. In addition to Family Mediation, Carolyn is a certified Child Inclusive Mediator and Voice of the Child practitioner. She has a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Windsor and is Level One and Two Certified in Violent Threat Risk Assessment and has completed courses in Anti-Oppressive Practice and Theory.
Carolyn worked for over 18 years in Child Welfare, where she developed extensive skills in conflict resolution, assessing risk and interviewing children using both formal and informal methods.
For much of her career in child welfare, Carolyn worked in First Nation communities, working collaboratively with the Nation.
Carolyn has worked with many families experiencing conflict, trauma and those who are impacted by substance misuse and mental illness.
Helping families work out their own solutions to their differences and interviewing children and youth to allow for their views and preferences to be heard is something Carolyn is passionate about.
Parenting Plans-Family Mediation
Family Mediation empowers parents as they work towards ending their conflict, allowing them to maintain control and ownership of the process. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation and fairness, especially when it comes to the well-being of children.
Family Mediators encourage communication between parents to explore their respective needs and interests in order to establish a shared parenting agreement.
It is an opportunity for a new beginning without the tension, frustration and cost which are so common to divorce court and litigation in general.
A mediated parenting plan is an agreement made by parents, that outlines how they will parent their children following their separation or divorce.
Voice of the Child Reports and Child Inclusive Mediation
Children have the right to be heard in matters that impact them. A voice of the child report allows the views and preferences of children and youth to be considered while making parenting plan decisions.
Following brief intake phone conversations with both parents, the child is interviewed privately twice and a report is made based on the views and preferences of the child. Participation by the child is voluntary, and the child determines what information is shared in the report.
The report is not evaluative, and does not offer suggestions or opinions.
A Voice of the Child Report can be completed in 30 days, is cost effective and helps parents reach agreement in their parenting plan. The report is then used in mediation that is facilitated by a different mediator. In Child Inclusive Mediation, Carolyn interviews the children as in a Voice of the Child Report and then shares the information with the parents during the mediation, which is facilitated by Carolyn. The information guides the parents with their parenting plan decisions.
Lakeshore Family Mediation
We are located in Sarnia Ontario and service the Sarnia-Lambton and London-Middlesex areas. In person and virtual appointments are available.
We are happy to talk to you about our services, and find the best way to help you and your children.