30-Hour Family Mediation Training Standards
TEXAS MEDIATION TRAINERS ROUNDTABLE
FAMILY MEDIATION TRAINING STANDARDS
Administrative procedures included in the 40-hour standards also apply to the Family Mediation Training Standards.
Minimum course time: 30 hours*
Acknowledging the work of the Academy of Family Mediators and in an effort to incorporate that organization’s requirements, TMTR recognizes the following AFM identified course outcomes:
Each student should have an
TMTR Standards for Family Mediation Training
The following six main topics should be covered. Also included are recommended time allocations and the various issues which might be included under each topic:
I. Family Law (minimum of 4 hours)
A. Overview of legal system and terms relating to family law
1. History and evolution of legal rights of parents
2. Parentage (never married parents)
3. Suits affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR)
4. Dissolution of marriage
5. Adult guardianship
B. Allocation of resources
1. Itemization, characterization, valuation and division of assets and liabilities
2. Finances
3. Taxes
C. Parenting Plans
1. Conservatorship
2. Parental rights and duties
3. Parental access
4. Child support
5. Non-parental access (grandparents, etc.)
6. Special issues of children with disabilities
II. Family Dynamics (minimum of 3 hours)
A. Family Systems
B. Blended Families
C. Psychological aspects of divorce and parenting
III. Child Development (minimum of 2 hours)
A. Stages of development
B. Impact and response to divorce
IV. Family Violence (minimum of 4 hours)
A. Screening
B. Impact of statutory requirements
C. Dynamics of family violence patterns, including power imbalances
D. Effect of family violence on children
E. Child abuse
F. Substance abuse
G. Stalking
H. Protective orders
I. Reporting laws and procedures
J. Anger management
K. Mediation safety plans, including caucus models
L. Violent children
V. Practice Considerations
A. Ethics (minimum of 2 hours)
B. Agreement memorialization
C. Unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
D. Pro se cases
E. Enforcement
F. Styles-of-mediation
G. Self-awareness
H. Impact of cultural differences
VI. Skills
A. Communication
B. Relationship-building
C. Information gathering
D. Problem solving
E. Conflict resolution theory
F. Referrals to professional support services (such as, social study/psychological evaluation, therapy, parenting education program, anger management counseling, family violence shelter, certified financial planning, certified public accounting, etc.)
Role Play: 6 hours minimum (including demonstrations, simulations, debriefing)
Teaching Techniques to be Used: Lecture, interactive exercises, video, discussion, role-play
Lead Trainer Qualifications:
A. Meets the Texas training requirements of 40 + 24 hours of training for parent-child mediations
B. 2 years experience as a family mediator
C. Experience in doing professional training
* Note that TMTR, in agreement with other national and state organizations using the standards promoted by ACR, has raised the number of required hours to accommodate the need for training on domestic violence and to raise the time spent on roleplay.
Adopted September 11, 2000
FAMILY MEDIATION TRAINING STANDARDS
Administrative procedures included in the 40-hour standards also apply to the Family Mediation Training Standards.
Minimum course time: 30 hours*
Acknowledging the work of the Academy of Family Mediators and in an effort to incorporate that organization’s requirements, TMTR recognizes the following AFM identified course outcomes:
Each student should have an
- Awareness of theories and current research and literature underlying conflict and its resolution, and their applicability to family mediation;
- Ability to screen for appropriateness of mediation, including knowledge and ability to screen for domestic violence and an awareness of appropriate response(s) when domestic violence or its potential has been identified;
- Awareness of the consequences of separation/divorce for adults and children;
- Ability to work with the substantive information encountered in separation/divorce mediation;
- Ability to facilitate problem solving between the parties, especially in the areas of divorce including, but not limited to, parenting, support, division of assets/liabilities, insurance, tax filing, and the like; and
- Ability to recognize when the assistance of other professionals might be helpful to the mediation process and to facilitate this discussion with the parties.
TMTR Standards for Family Mediation Training
The following six main topics should be covered. Also included are recommended time allocations and the various issues which might be included under each topic:
I. Family Law (minimum of 4 hours)
A. Overview of legal system and terms relating to family law
1. History and evolution of legal rights of parents
2. Parentage (never married parents)
3. Suits affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR)
4. Dissolution of marriage
5. Adult guardianship
B. Allocation of resources
1. Itemization, characterization, valuation and division of assets and liabilities
2. Finances
3. Taxes
C. Parenting Plans
1. Conservatorship
2. Parental rights and duties
3. Parental access
4. Child support
5. Non-parental access (grandparents, etc.)
6. Special issues of children with disabilities
II. Family Dynamics (minimum of 3 hours)
A. Family Systems
B. Blended Families
C. Psychological aspects of divorce and parenting
III. Child Development (minimum of 2 hours)
A. Stages of development
B. Impact and response to divorce
IV. Family Violence (minimum of 4 hours)
A. Screening
B. Impact of statutory requirements
C. Dynamics of family violence patterns, including power imbalances
D. Effect of family violence on children
E. Child abuse
F. Substance abuse
G. Stalking
H. Protective orders
I. Reporting laws and procedures
J. Anger management
K. Mediation safety plans, including caucus models
L. Violent children
V. Practice Considerations
A. Ethics (minimum of 2 hours)
B. Agreement memorialization
C. Unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
D. Pro se cases
E. Enforcement
F. Styles-of-mediation
G. Self-awareness
H. Impact of cultural differences
VI. Skills
A. Communication
B. Relationship-building
C. Information gathering
D. Problem solving
E. Conflict resolution theory
F. Referrals to professional support services (such as, social study/psychological evaluation, therapy, parenting education program, anger management counseling, family violence shelter, certified financial planning, certified public accounting, etc.)
Role Play: 6 hours minimum (including demonstrations, simulations, debriefing)
Teaching Techniques to be Used: Lecture, interactive exercises, video, discussion, role-play
Lead Trainer Qualifications:
A. Meets the Texas training requirements of 40 + 24 hours of training for parent-child mediations
B. 2 years experience as a family mediator
C. Experience in doing professional training
* Note that TMTR, in agreement with other national and state organizations using the standards promoted by ACR, has raised the number of required hours to accommodate the need for training on domestic violence and to raise the time spent on roleplay.
Adopted September 11, 2000
