The Child Protection Mediation Program will bring together families, social service agencies and the state to resolve issues that are keeping kids in foster care. Volunteer mediators are needed to facilitate these meetings and help stabilize families in Kane County.

One of the amazing aspects of the pilot program is its enthusiastic financial support. About 47 percent of the funding comes from federal grants, with the remainder coming from foundations. With the aid of grants from the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Court Improvement Program, the program aims to serve up to 60 families in the next year at no cost to county taxpayers.

The concept began with the Kane County judges who hear abuse and neglect cases every day. The judges then approached longtime partner RSI about launching this program. RSI has administered the 16^th Circuit’s mortgage foreclosure mediation program since 2014, which to date has served over 800 homeowners.

Next came support from a host of funding agencies who were eager to back the program and from a coalition of stakeholders who have provided their input, expertise and support. The result is a program that has gone from concept to pilot in a matter of months.

“Seeing this program come together so quickly has been such a tremendous experience,” said RSI’s Kane County Mediation Program Manager Kevin Malone, who will both oversee and serve as a mediator in the Child Protection Mediation Program. “I believe this program will offer families an incredibly valuable and necessary service as they try to do the right thing for their children.”

Associate Judge William Parkhurst echoed Malone’s sentiments.

“When this program launches, it will be just the third such program in the state,” he said. “I am proud that this court can offer the citizens of Kane County access to a much-needed service.”

How To Volunteer

Individuals interested in receiving training and serving as volunteer mediators are encouraged to apply by completing the application, available at this website page. Applications are due by midnight Dec. 11, or received by regular mail before Dec. 12.

A required two-day training on Jan. 20 and 21, must be completed in order to serve as a child protection mediator in Kane County. This two-day training will teach prospective mediators specific skills necessary when dealing with child abuse and neglect cases.

Those who are interested in learning more about the new child protection mediation program, or would like a hard copy of the application, should reach out to Kevin Malone at 630-444-3128 or kmalone@aboutrsi.org

SOURCE: RSI, 16th Judicial Circuit Court

About Resolution Systems Institute

Resolution Systems Institute  is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1995. RSI’s mission is to strengthen access to justice by enhancing court alternative dispute resolution. Founded on the premise that collecting and disseminating reliable information about court ADR can raise the quality of court ADR, RSI has assisted state and federal courts with the design, administration, monitoring and evaluation of mediation programs, as well as training ADR neutrals. Courts and individuals across the country call on RSI for advice and make use of CourtADR.org, RSI’s Court ADR Resource Center.

With a multi-year grant from the Office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa M. Madigan, RSI has fully implemented the advice the organization has developed over the course of two decades: Seek stakeholder input. Set goals. Design clear systems. Train skilled neutrals. Collect uniform data. Share information with stakeholders. Assess programs with an expert eye. Never stop working to improve court ADR programs.