Family issues in the court system are stressful and difficult to navigate. Avoiding trial is often one way families attempt to reduce stress and hope for a best case scenario outcome. Not having a mediator who understands the needs of the family, especially if there is a high level of conflict between two caretakers, can complicate decision making and the new expectations a family is operating with. Some times this may result in over managing the personalities involved through frustrating agreements and leaving the mediation feeling helpless and hopeless. Having a Mediator that is trained in family conflict, child development, and understanding emotional needs of the parties to cut through the conflict is what makes a difference.

Early Neutral Evaluation is new to Iowa. Only a small number of attorney’s and now Clinicians are trained in this service. Early Neutral Evaluation is often conducted in the very beginning of a family court case, often before seeing a judge for any hearings. Early Neutral Evaluation, or ENE, is a way for both parties to present their case and positions to a qualified neutral evaluator for case review and feedback related to custody, parenting time, psychological factors to consider, and child development to help guide the legal professionals and caretakers related to their requests and best course of action. ENE is a professional review of the conflicts and can help in addressing what is in the child’s best interest. Especially if there is domestic violence, intimate partner violence, allegations of abuse, high conflict between parents, or a resist/refuse dynamic with a child and a parent. ENE can be preventative and save a significant amount of money for both caretakers, and reduce the conflict going forward. ENE typically lasts 3-4 hours (but can go longer) and the average cost is around $500.

Child Inclusive Mediation is a way to allow the voice of the child(ren) in to a parenting dispute or in developing a child focused parenting plan. Child Inclusive Mediation does not mean the child is in the room with the parents and actively mediates their wishes. Child Inclusive Mediation is when a third party qualified neutral evaluator trained in child interviewing meets with the child before a Mediation takes place to find out what wishes the child has, and is able to maintain confidentiality. The qualified neutral participates on behalf of the child(ren) and advocates for their wishes and makes recommendations for the two caretakers to consider in their agreement. It eliminates messy parenting time schedules, worries about coaching, and gives the child a voice in the process to which they will be living with the outcome until they leave home.