Online mediation orientation is being offered by the state of California.  Designed primarily for parents, the online program is designed to instruct those who will participate in a mediation session about the way the process works so that when they attend sessions, those sessions can be as productive as possible.  The orientation program also serves to help parents avoid wasting their own or each other's time by making sure that all parties are aware of documentation and other information that they must bring with them when they attend a mediation session.

Online Mediation Orientation Not Only Choice

The orientation has been so successful at making mediation sessions more productive that the state has begun requiring that all parties to the child custody or other family dispute complete the program before they are eligible to participate in the mediation sessions themselves.  Since the orientation is offered online and internet access may be an issue for some individuals, the state advises parents that free online access is available at most public libraries in California. 

However, individuals may also attend these civil mediation orientation programs in person.  These sessions take approximately one hour and allow participants to ask questions.  It is requested that children not attend in-person orientation sessions.  Both the online and in-person orientations are offered free of charge.