The Ohio Supreme Court has amended Rule 16 of the Rules of Superintendence to provide guidance on local rules for mediation. The rule is effective January 1, 2007. The current Superintendence Rule 16 provides for mediators in custody and visitation disputes and sets out the qualifications for those mediators. The qualifications for "allocation of parental rights" mediators is incorporated in the new rule at section (C)(1), and apply to mediators in domestic relations and juvenile courts. There are special qualifications for mediators dealing with domestic abuse and abuse, neglect and dependency cases. The new rule also provides required provisions for all mediation rules; provisions for domestic relations and juvenile court mediation; and provisions for child abuse, neglect and dependency meditions. Source: Ohio Judicial Conference FYI.