Become A CP Mediator

Requirements to apply for Child Protection Mediation Training

In order to conduct child protection mediation work in the province of Ontario, mediators must be registered on the Ontario Child Protection Mediation Roster that is administered and managed by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM). The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has established training and eligibility requirements that must be met in order for a mediator to be placed on the roster (Ministry Policy Directive: CW 005-06). Candidates must meet the following criteria in order to be accepted into the training:

1. Accreditation as a Family Mediator by OAFM or Certification as a Family Mediator by Family Mediation Canada; or equivalency, defined as:
   a)  Proof of a professional degree or diploma in social services or children’s services;
   b)  Proof of completion of at least 60 hours of training in family mediation, both basic and advanced, to include a minimum of 20 hours of skill training;
   c)  Proof of completion of 21 hours of domestic violence training;
   d)  Completion of at least 10 family mediation cases mediated to the point of agreement that the applicant has mediated or co-mediated, with submission of redacted Memoranda of Understanding or Mediation Reports.
2. Submission of proof of professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.
3. Submission of a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening completed within the last three years.
4. Submission of three satisfactory professional references (Reference Form).
5. A signed Declaration Form which outlines the applicant’s agreement to abide by the OAFM Professional Code of Conduct. (Declaration Form)
6. Submission of a current resume.

PLEASE NOTE: Each ministry (MCCSS) region in Ontario has one or more ADR agencies which manage the ADR referrals and assignments at a local level. Please check with the agency in your region to see if they are currently recruiting Child Protection Mediators to add to their local roster. Agencies are listed here.

Application Process

The Child Protection Mediation course is open to candidates who meet the above eligibility requirements. OAFM reserves the right to limit the number of participants admitted into each training course to ensure a quality training experience.

2025/2026 Fiscal Year Training dates as follows:

The courses will be held from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm, each day with a lunch break at noon and breaks in the morning and afternoon. The course will be offered online. 

Applicants are responsible for the technology on their end of the training and should be available to participate full-time in the training by both audio and video.

An exemption from the Law course may be permitted depending upon the applicant’s academic/work related experience. Please email the request for exemption to the Program Assistant (director@cpmed.ca).

The application process is as follows:

1. Please submit all required documents for review to the Program Assistant by email (support@cpmed.ca). 
2. Please upload the required documentation to the Ontario Child Protection Mediation Roster portal (Please note: this is a separate roster from the OAFM main directory). Please send your current resume and three professional references to the Program Assistant by email  (support@cpmed.ca). 
3. Once an applicant has been accepted into the training, the course fee of $1300.00 + HST ($1469.00) must be paid (https://www.oafm.on.ca/events/).  The payment in full is due by February 20, 2026. If payment is not received in time, the training spot will be offered to the next eligible applicant on the reserve list.
4. Training spaces are assigned in the order in which the completed applications are received and assessed for eligibility.

5. Refund Policy: The $1300.00 tuition fee less a $100 administrative fee is refundable (a maximum of $1200 +HST is refunded) if notice is given in writing to the Program Manager and received at least 10 days prior to commencement of the course. If notification is received in writing less than 10 days prior to the commencement of the course, there will be no refund; the paid amount can be credited towards a future OAFM sponsored course. Once the course commences, no further refunds or credit will be issued.

6. The deadline for applications is January 30, 2026. 

Post Training

1. Upon successful completion of all three elements of the course (written evaluation, peer evaluation, and instructor evaluation of the role plays), your name will be added to the Ontario Child Protection Mediation Roster.
2. For those applicants who are not successful in their completion of the Child Protection Mediation Course, a remedial path may be considered by the trainers and next steps will be discussed with the applicant.

Maintaining your Roster Listing

Once you have completed the training and been successfully listed on the Ontario Child Protection Mediation Roster, you will need to fulfill annual requirements to remain in good standing on the roster.

1. You must update your insurance on an annual basis.
2. You must update the Vulnerable Sector Check every three years.
3. In a year where a Vulnerable-Sector Check is not required, individuals that are subject to the regulatory requirements are required to provide an Notice of Charge or Conviction Form, specifically a written declaration signed by the individual, listing all of the individual’s convictions for offences under the Canadian Criminal Code and every criminal offence for which there is an outstanding charge or warrant to arrest against the person up to the date of the declaration. Individuals subject to this directive must notify OAFM through a written and signed notice, as soon as possible, after being charged or convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code. 
4. A signed annual renewal declaration is required to be executed on an annual basis at the same time, usually done when you update your insurance.
5. All documents need to be uploaded on to your profile, and they must be current.
6. OAFM reserves the right to remove anyone from the roster who is not in good standing. While OAFM sends out reminders to mediators, it is the mediator’s responsibility to ensure that they remain in good standing.

EDI Bursary Application 2025/2026: 

OAFM is offering seven (7) bursaries of $1,500 to support Associate Members completing required training toward AccFM, AccIM, or CPMed accreditation in 2026. Recipients also receive free entry to the 2026 Annual Conference and waived accreditation application fees. EDI Bursary Application 2025/2026

This bursary supports Indigenous, BPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and differently abled individuals facing financial barriers in accessing mediation training. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply. 

Additional Training

Each year, the OAFM Child Protection Mediation Committee and the Program Manager organize advanced training.  For example, advanced training in openness in adoption, advanced training in working with people who have experienced trauma, or advanced training in working with youth.

For more information about advanced training opportunities, please login to your profile and check “News” column or contact the Program Assistant. support@cpmed.ca