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Family mediation, brought to France from Quebec in the late 1980’s, has a known theoretical basis. The practice of mediation is applied to national and international conflict, to interpersonal conflict, and to marital separation and divorce with concern for children’s interests, and it has been encouraged on a European scale. In France it has been institutionalised by a State diploma as well as by the provision of services on the part of the « Caisse d’Allocations Familiales » (Family Allowance Office). Since 2006 it has been further developed by the evaluation of needs and resources carried out within each French department. However, much of the mediation and many of the polymorphous practices dealing with families have sown confusion. This incurs the risk that a truly new and original method could be misunderstood. Therefore, clarification for all parties concerned, as well as evaluation of public policies which support parenthood, are called for.