Ontario Association for Family Mediation

What Ontario Association for Family Mediation does

The Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1982 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that serves as Ontario's primary accreditor of family mediators. The organization provides training, accreditation, and oversight to over 700 member mediators spanning law, social work, psychology, and finance disciplines across every region of the province. Its core designations include the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM), recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and the Family Court System as the standard for court-connected family mediation; the Accredited Intergenerational Mediator (AccIM), built around the proprietary Insight Model for elder and family business disputes; and Child Protection Mediation (CPMed), required by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for child protection matters. Operations are run by a small core staff of four (Executive Director, Program Manager, Program Assistant, and Assistant to the Executive Director), and members are supported through a Member365 self-serve portal that handles applications, renewals, course tracking, insurance verification, event registration, and directory listing.

OAFM's technology stack centers on the Member365 membership management platform integrated with the bilingual oafm.on.ca public website, which hosts both member-facing tools and a publicly accessible mediator directory that drives organic discovery by Ontario families. The organization distributes training through over 20 approved course providers (including York University, Durham College, and Humber) and curates an OAFM Virtual Library of legal, family, and financial resources. Engagement channels include monthly webinars (CPMed Connect, Mediation Matters, Insight Matters), the annual OAFM Conference, the Family Peacemakers Conference co-organized at Blue Mountain, and a Joint DV Symposium.

OAFM generates revenue through three primary streams: annual membership dues across three tiers ($35 student, $100 supporting, $175 associate), one-time $450 accreditation application fees per designation, and government contract revenue from the Child Protection Mediation program delivered under contract with the Ministry of the Attorney General for the Kingston and Quinte Region. Events are largely free to members and serve as retention and community touchpoints rather than significant revenue drivers. The organization is member-funded and not backed by venture capital or private equity, and is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors. The 2023 collaboration with FDRIO consolidated OAFM's position as the largest accreditor of family mediators in Ontario.

Name

Ontario Association for Family Mediation

Legal name

Ontario Association for Family Mediation

Website

https://oafm.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OAFM is a non-profit professional association, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Toronto, that accredits and oversees family mediators across Ontario. It issues the AccFM designation recognized by the Ministry of the Attorney General and serves over 700 mediators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Mediator Accreditation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACALAI

Co-Parenting, Father Engagement & Caregiver Inclusion Programs

Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

Keywords

• Family mediation services
• Mediator accreditation
• Professional membership association
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Child protection mediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: OAFM generates primary revenue from annual membership fees across three tiers: Associate Members at $175/year, Supporting Members at $100/year, and Student Members at $35/year. All fees are plus applicable taxes and recur annually, providing predictable subscription-like revenue.
2. Accreditation Application Fees: A one-time processing fee of $450 plus applicable taxes is charged for each Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation application. This revenue is episodic and tied to career milestones for mediators.
3. Professional Development Events and Conferences: Revenue is generated from annual conferences, professional development workshops, and monthly webinars including CPMed Connect and Mediation Matters. The OAFM Annual Conference (September 19, 2025) is offered free to OAFM members, suggesting member value retention rather than significant revenue driver.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

OAFM provides accreditation, training, professional development, and oversight for family mediators in Ontario, anchored by three designations: the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM), the Accredited Intergenerational Mediator (AccIM), and Child Protection Mediator (CPMed) credentials recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and Family Court System. The association operates tiered membership (Associate, Supporting, Student), an approved training course pathway, a supervised practical experience program, a public directory that connects Ontario families to accredited mediators, and ongoing member services including webinars, conferences, insurance discounts, and a virtual library.

Product overview

The Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) operates as a professional membership organization offering accreditation designations, training programs, and member services for family mediators in Ontario. The core offerings include the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation recognized by the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Accredited Intergenerational Mediator (AccIM) designation for elder/intergenerational disputes, and Child Protection Mediation (CPMed) services. The organization provides structured training pathways through approved course providers, manages a supervised practical experience program (SPEP), maintains a public directory of accredited mediators, and offers member benefits including the Member365 portal, Virtual Library, and ongoing professional development through webinars and conferences. The portfolio is structured around accreditation tiers (Associate, Student, Supporting membership) leading to professional designations, supported by training, practical experience requirements, and continuing education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Intergenerational Mediation: Mediation of disputes involving older adults, formerly known as Elder Mediation. Uses the Insight Model of mediation.
• Child Protection Mediation (CPMed)

Products and services

• Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) Designation The primary accreditation designation for family mediators in Ontario, recognized by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Family Court System. Demonstrates proven experience, specific education and training, and adherence to OAFM's Standards of Practice.
• OAFM Membership (Associate, Supporting, Student) Tiered membership program including Associate Members (practising mediators seeking accreditation at $175/year), Student Members (full-time university/college students at $35/year), and Supporting Members (non-practising supporters at $100/year).
• Accredited Intergenerational Mediator (AccIM) Designation Accreditation for mediators specializing in disputes involving older adults, covering historical background, multigenerational families, elder law, power dynamics, elder abuse, grief and loss, dementia, and guardianship. Requires completion of 120 hours of Intergenerational Mediation training from an OAFM-approved trainer plus additional prerequisites.
• Child Protection Mediation (CPMed) Service Mediation services for child protection matters, with designated CPMed Program staff and roster mediators. Provides on-site and off-site mediation, Information and Referral Coordination, and Mandatory Information Programs under contracts with the Ministry of the Attorney General.
• OAFM-Approved Family Mediator Training Courses Approved training courses required for AccFM accreditation: Fundamentals of Family Mediation (40 hours), Advanced Family Mediation (21 hours), Screening for Domestic Violence (21 hours), Family Law (21 hours), and Family Relations (21 hours). Delivered by 20+ approved providers across Ontario including universities and private organizations.
• Supervised Practical Experience Program (SPEP) Minimum 100-hour supervised practical experience program for Associate Members pursuing accreditation, including observation, co-mediation, leading mediations, drafting opportunities, and file management, with specified supervisor requirements.
• OAFM Annual Conference and Monthly Webinar Programme Ongoing professional development including the annual OAFM Conference (September 19, 2025), monthly webinars (CPMed Connect, Mediation Matters, Insight Matters), the Family Peacemakers Conference (May 22-23, 2026 at Blue Mountain), and joint symposia such as the PFMS and OAFM Joint DV Symposium.
• Family Mediation Process Services Voluntary dispute resolution process for families covering divorce/separation, marriage/cohabitation, elder/intergenerational, and family business matters. Includes open and closed mediation formats, and information on arbitration, med-arb, and parenting coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 mediators from various disciplines represent OAFM's membership across every region of Ontario
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ADRNotableminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025OAFM partnered with ADRNotable in January 2025 to provide its members with a 10% discount on the ADRNotable platform (code: OAFM). This collaboration enhances available resources and opportunities for OAFM members and supports the professionalism of family mediation.
• FDRIO (Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Effective September 1, 2023, FDRIO and OAFM entered a strategic collaboration to unify family dispute resolution certification in Ontario. FDRIO ceased certifying new FDRP Med Certified Specialists in Family Mediation, with OAFM becoming the largest accreditor of family mediators in Ontario. FDRIO members received OAFM AccFM equivalency, free one-year OAFM membership renewal, and waived application fees for FDRP Med members as of June 30, 2023. Both organizations collaborate on public awareness, professional development, events, and advocacy. FDRIO continues as the sole accreditor of Parenting Coordinators and Family Arbitrators.
• LMS ProLink Ltd.minorOthersOAFM selected LMS ProLink Ltd. as one of its recommended insurance brokers for E&O and personal insurance for members, offering discounted rates to Accredited and Associate Members. Located at 480 University Ave., Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5G 1V2.
• ZensuranceminorOthersOAFM partnered with Zensurance as a recommended insurance broker for E&O and personal insurance, offering discounted rates to OAFM members. Located at 200 University Avenue, Suite 1302, Toronto, ON M5H 3C6.
• Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd.minorOthersOAFM partnered with Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd. as a recommended insurance broker for E&O and personal insurance, offering discounted rates to OAFM members. Located at 3100 Steeles Ave East., Suite 101, Markham, ON L3R 8T3.
• Your Friends With BenefitsminorOthersOAFM provides exclusive access to health, dental, life, and disability benefits for members through the Your Friends With Benefits platform, featuring simplified underwriting.
• Family Peacemakers ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAFM co-organizes the annual Family Peacemakers Conference, a major professional development and networking event for family mediators held at Blue Mountain resort (May 22-23, 2026). The conference serves as a key annual gathering for the family mediation community.
• CPMed Connect / Child Protection Mediation ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAFM manages the Child Protection Mediation (CPMed) program, with Vicky Visca as Program Manager and Amanda Reece as Program Assistant. The program holds contracts with the Ministry of the Attorney General for mediation services in Kingston and the Quinte Region. CPMed Connect is a monthly webinar held on the first Wednesday of each month.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Regional players

• Mediate BC: British Columbia's family mediation accreditation and roster body. Highly comparable in mission (accreditation, public roster, training standards) but operates in a different Canadian province rather than competing directly with OAFM in Ontario.
• Resolution (UK): UK membership organization for family justice professionals including mediators. Comparable as a membership body setting standards and providing training for family dispute resolution, but operates in a different jurisdiction (England & Wales).

Broad incumbents

• Law Society of Ontario: Provincial regulator for Ontario lawyers, many of whom practice family mediation. Comparable as a standards-setting and member-services body that intersects with the family mediation ecosystem, though broader in scope (all legal practice).
• Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR): US-based international professional association for conflict resolution practitioners. Comparable as a broad membership and training organization serving mediators, though it operates across all ADR specialties rather than family-specific accreditation.
• Family Mediation Canada: National umbrella organization for family mediation in Canada. Comparable in mission and accreditation activities, but operates federally rather than as a provincial accreditor, putting it at a layer above OAFM's specific Ontario mandate.
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC): National ADR professional body offering Chartered Mediator designations across all practice areas. Comparable in its accreditation/membership model, but operates nationally and across broader ADR categories rather than specializing in family mediation.
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers: Provincial regulator for social workers, a significant constituent discipline within OAFM's membership base. Relevant as an adjacent professional accreditor whose members cross-credential through OAFM for family mediation practice.

Emerging players

• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM): US membership organization supporting community mediation centers with training and standards. Shares the professional association/membership-services model with OAFM but focuses on community-based rather than court-connected accreditation.

Direct peers

• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO): Ontario chapter of the ADR Institute of Canada, providing neutral ADR accreditation (Q.Med, C.Med designations) including family mediation. Directly overlaps with OAFM's membership and accreditation mission in Ontario.
• Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO): Ontario's other primary family dispute resolution body, accrediting Parenting Coordinators, Family Arbitrators, and (until 2023) Family Mediators. FDRIO is OAFM's closest strategic partner/competitor and the only direct comparable in Ontario family ADR.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OAFMEDIATION
• Facebookfacebook.com/ontariomediation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-association-for-family-mediation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ontario Association for Family Mediation