Rule 16.23 - Mediator Education and Training(A)General (1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this rule, a mediator shall complete "Fundamentals of Mediation Training" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution. (2) A mediator shall not be required to complete training pursuant to division (A)(1) of this rule if any of the following apply: (a) Prior to January 1, 2020, the mediator has completed at least twelve hours of basic mediation training; (b) Prior to January 1, 2020, the mediator has served as a full-time mediator for a minimum of three years or mediated at least forty-five cases, in which case the mediator shall complete the "Advanced Mediation Workshop" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution; (c) The mediator is a law student enrolled in a clinical mediation or dispute resolution program at an American Bar Association accredited law school, has completed mandatory coursework in fundamental mediation topics, and mediates under the supervision of faculty at the law school.(B)Domestic relations and juvenile courts (1) Prior to accepting a referral from a court for disputes involving the termination of marriage; the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities; the care of or visitation with minor children; unruly and delinquency cases; or juvenile civil protection order cases pursuant to R.C. 2151.34 or R.C. 3113.31, a mediator shall meet all of the following qualifications: (a) Possess a bachelor's degree, or equivalent educational experience as is satisfactory to the court, and at least two years of professional experience with families, including counseling, casework, legal representation in family law matters, or such other equivalent experience satisfactory to the court; (b) Comply with the requirements of division (A) of this rule; (c) Complete "Specialized Family or Divorce Mediation Training" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution, provided that a mediator who is mediating a delinquency or unruly case may do so even if the mediator has not taken this training; (d) Complete "Specialized Domestic Abuse Issues and Mediation Training" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution unless either of the following apply: (i) The mediator is co-mediating with another mediator who has completed the training; (ii) The mediator is a law student enrolled in a clinical mediation or dispute resolution program at an American Bar Association accredited law school, has completed mandatory coursework in fundamental and domestic abuse mediation topics, and mediates under the supervision of faculty at the law school who has completed the training. (2) Prior to accepting a referral from a court for disputes involving abuse, neglect, and dependency, a mediator shall meet all of the following qualifications: (a) Possess significant experience mediating family disputes; (b) Complete the requirements of division (B)(1) of this rule; (c) Complete "Specialized Child Protection Mediation Training" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution. (3) Prior to accepting a referral from a court for disputes involving school attendance mediation, a mediator shall meet either of the following qualifications: (a) Complete the requirements of division (A) of this rule; (b) Complete "School Attendance Mediation Training" approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution.Ohio. R. Superi. Ct. 16.23
Adopted September 10, 2019, effective 1/1/2020.