Job at a glance
To provide evaluation and mediation services to the Family Court in compliance with Wisconsin Statutes 767.405. Provide screening service for step parent adoptions in compliance with Wisconsin Statutes 48.88. Provide evaluative reports regarding legal custody, physical placement including primary and periods of placement, and visitation of children upon order of the Circuit Court or Family Court Commissioner.
Testify before Circuit Court regarding custody, placement and visitation. Provide mediation for all issues regarding legal custody, physical placement and visitation upon referral from the court, attorneys, or application of the involved individuals. Review and consider parenting plans submitted by parents who are involved in placement and custody disputes. Conduct evaluations and report to the Court and the State concerning petitions for step parent adoptions.
Participate in relevant staff training activities as directed. Supervision Received : Receives direct supervision from the Family Court Commissioner/Director of Family Court Counseling Services. Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services or Behavior Science field (Child Development, Criminal Justice, Educational Psychology, Vocational Rehabilitation, Guidance and Counseling, Psychology, Social Welfare, Social Work, or Sociology or other related field).
One (1) year full time post-graduate experience as a Social Worker, Therapist, Family Dispute Resolution or other related professional position. Experience does not include internships, school or volunteer experiences. Experience in court related work and investigative studies preferred. Every mediator assigned shall have not less than 25 hours of mediation training or not less than 3 years of professional experience in dispute resolution pursuant to Wis.
Statutes 767.11(4). This requirement must be met within 60 days of date of hire. Possess interviewing skills with parents, children, teachers and relatives of persons going through divorce related court activity. Ability to express oneself verbally by testimony; to express oneself by written reports and to undergo cross examination. Ability to communicate with legal, mental health and other professionals as well as with a diverse population of parties.
Knowledge of the theory and practice of mediation as applied to custody, physical placement and visitation disputes. Knowledge of the Wisconsin Family Law and Family Court procedures with relation to children. Investigative skills to organize and conduct studies. Familiarity with appropriate community resources for counseling services for individuals and families. Knowledge of family, marriage and divorce dynamics, child development and age-appropriate responses to divorce and family break up.
Knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, mental illness and criminal behavior, especially as they affect families, parents and children. Compensation : This is a contracted position with no benefits. The compensation is $46,440 to $54,960 per year depending on percentage of caseload (paid in monthly increments of $3,870 - $4,580) This description has been prepared to assist in properly evaluating various classes of responsibilities, skills, working conditions etc.
present in the classification. It is intended to indicate the kind of tasks and characteristic levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities, nor, is it intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.
The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind and level of difficulty.