Court Family Services is a department providing custody evaluations, mediations, and educational specialist interventions.

Custody Evaluation is a tool used to evaluate the best interest of a child in a contested case.  Cases can be referred for custody evaluation either by a judge or magistrate. Custody evaluators will listen to parties, create an information file, and prepare a written report of their evaluation.

Mediation is a voluntary process where parties come together with a mediator to settle a dispute. While a mediator controls the mediation process, parties control the conversation and the outcome.  It is a useful tool to create a plan tailored to their specific needs.  

Civil Mediation is a means for parties who were not married when a child or children were born to fashion a parenting plan and address legal issues.  Sole custody or shared parenting plans are tailored to address distinct family needs such as custody, decision making, living arrangements, holidays, vacations, transportation, clothing, school, financial support, medical and dental care, insurance, tax exemptions, child support, moving, respect, religion and extended families.   

Access to Visitation mediations are funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and they are conducted at the Lucas County Child Support Enforcement Agency facility.  This grant creates child support orders and connects parents with children.

TPS Truancy Prevention Mediations are funded through an ODJFS grant to improve students’ daily attendance.  The grant is a collaboration between Toledo Public Schools and the Lucas County Juvenile Court with financial support from Lucas County Job and Family Services.  

Educational Specialist Interventions are scheduled as an alternative to adjudication when Toledo Public Schools’ truancy and contributing complaints are filed at court. During these interventions, families and an Educational Specialist discuss barriers to attendance, solutions to challenges, and available community resources.

Family Conflict Mediations are designed to help children and parents create a plan that allows the family to stay safe while the case proceeds through the court.  Agreements often include designs to utilize safety plans and address conflict.

In-Court based Contributing and Truancy Mediations occur as an alternative to adjudication following the filing of a truancy or contributing complaint.  During these mediations, a mediator and families discuss barriers to attendance, solutions to challenges, and available community resources.

Child Protection Mediations are a collaborative process where an impartial, neutral mediator facilitates negotiation and communication among parties. Child Protection mediations seek to bring all parties together to fashion agreements addressing parties’ questions, concerns, and needs while likewise working towards safe and permanent agreements for children.

The Court Family Services Department can be reached by phone at (419) 213-6881.