(1) At any stage in a dependency proceeding, any party may request the court to refer the parties to mediation in accordance with chapter 44 and rules and procedures developed by the Supreme Court.
(2) A court may refer the parties to mediation. When such services are available, the court must determine whether it is in the best interests of the child to refer the parties to mediation.
(3) The department shall advise the parties that they are responsible for contributing to the cost of the dependency mediation.
(4) This section applies only to courts in counties in which dependency mediation programs have been established and does not require the establishment of such programs in any county.
