Child-Centered Mediation

Our Child-Centered Mediators are trained child advocates who work with families to come to agreements on custody and financial issues that are in their children’s best interest.   

It’s important to keep in mind that divorce and separation are not an ‘adults-only’ problem. Our mediators educate parents on how conflict and separation negatively impact their children, both in the long and short term. We help parents to look beyond their wants and needs to encourage them to focus on the children. It’s important to be mindful about how every custodial and financial decision they make can impact their child’s best interest. 

What to Expect

Initially, we will meet with you separately to learn about your unique situation and family dynamic. This includes getting the history of parental conflict, matters of current concern, finances, and each child’s unique needs and circumstances. Sometimes we meet with the children to better understand their perspective and what’s important to them. If appropriate, we review reports, school records, and court documents and we can speak to teachers, coaches, therapists, doctors, extended family, caregivers, etc.

For newly separated families, we will sometimes mediate a temporary time sharing agreement. This allows everyone time to adjust to the separation. We often recommend individual and family therapy to stabilize the family. After enough time has passed and the family is ready, we can then mediate a permanent custody and financial settlement.

The best interest mediation process is confidential. The discussions we have in mediation cannot be used in court.

Our Mediators

All of our mediators have completed mediation training and have been volunteer mediators at the Mediation Center of the Pacific. They are also active members of the Association of Family and Conciliation Court and Hawaiʻi State Bar Association’s Child Law section who have received extensive training in custody issues such as child-development, relocation, child-focused parenting plans, child abuse, addiction, and mental health.