Course Description
Parenting Consultation is a child-focused Alternative Dispute Resolution Process that assists high-conflict parents in resolving disputes regarding parenting issues. This training provides a practical overview of the knowledge, skills and procedures essential to become a Parenting Consultant (PC). This training is based on the training requirements outlined by the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and adapted to Minnesota practice. This training will cover: The Parenting Consulting process, Family Dynamics in Separation and Divorce, Parenting Consulting Techniques and Issues, an overview of Minnesota Family Law and Domestic Violence Issues
Course Instructors
Karen Irvin
Karen Irvin received her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, majoring in secondary education. After teaching at the secondary level for six years, she obtained her master’s and doctorate in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. She worked with Hennepin County Court Services Domestic Relations Division in Minneapolis, MN for six years, serving as a mediator, counselor and custody evaluator, and working in a supervisory capacity for four of the six years. Dr. Irvin has been in private practice as the owner and director of Minnesota Mediation & Counseling Center since 1981. She specializes in working with separating and divorcing individuals, couples and families, providing mediation, parenting consulting, and custody evaluations. She has also provided mediation and parenting consulting workshops and training throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Irvin was on the marriage and family therapy faculty of Argosy University for six years, with a teaching emphasis in ethics, human sexuality and mediation. Dr. Irvin has authored and co-authored articles related to her areas of expertise. Dr. Irvin is approved as a supervisor by the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy in Minnesota and is also an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor.
Andrea Niemi
Andrea Niemi is a partner at the law firm of Niemi, Barr & Jerabek in Minneapolis. In practice since 1982, Ms. Niemi has a broad range of experience in family and juvenile law. She received her B.A. from Macalester College and her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. She currently limits her practice to alternative dispute resolution in family and juvenile law matters, including mediation, parenting consulting and parenting time expediting. Ms. Niemi is past President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the Friends of Children Foundation and the Collaborative Law Institute. She is an adjunct professor of Famiy Law at William Mitchell College of Law and is a frequent lecturer at various state and national continuing legal education seminars. She currently serves on the Minnesota ADR Ethics Board. She has been named one of the top 40 Family and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Lawyers in Minnesota, one of the top 100 women lawyers in Minnesota, a Super Lawyer, a Minnesota Leading Attorney and has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America.
