The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners established a Family Resolution Services Division within the Department of Juvenile and Adult Community Justice. In addition to any other duties assigned by the Board of Commissioners or the Department, the Family Resolution Services Division shall obey the court's lawful orders and directions. In carrying out its duties to the court, the Family Resolution Services Division provides the following services to parties within the court's jurisdiction:
(1) Conciliation: The Division provides conciliation services for parties in domestic relation matters as provided by ORS 107.510 to 107.610. All Division conciliation records and conciliation communications, oral or written, are confidential, and Division employees and the parties may not be examined about such records or communications and neither may be used in any civil or criminal action.(2) Mediation: The Division will mediate all domestic relations actions that involve controversies regarding custody, parenting time or visitation of children. This includes requests for joint custody and, when ordered, contempt matters involving parties who are non-parents. The mediator will report the outcome to the court and the parties or their counsel in writing. Mediation proceedings are confidential. All Division mediation records and all mediation communications, oral or written, are confidential. Division employees and the parties may not be examined about such records or communications, and the records may not be used in any civil or criminal action.(3) Co-Parent Communication Coaching: The Division offers co-parent communication coaching based on the New Ways for Families approach. The service includes a 12 lesson online course and 4 individual coaching sessions with a trained co-parent communication coach and member of the Family Resolution Services staff. The content is designed to assist parents to manage conflict, negotiate decisions, promote respectful communication, encourage themselves in times of stress, and co-parent more effectively. All Division co-parent coaching records and communications, oral or written, are confidential, and Division employees will only testify in a civil proceeding by subpoena. Parents can participate in coaching voluntarily or by court order. A standard form of Order has been adopted and is available on the OJD website.Multnomah Supp. L. R. 8.038
Amended effective 2/1/2024.