Attention Mediators in the State of Texas: Mandatory Training Required for Family Neutrals by January 2018

Section 154.052(b) of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code was amended and became effective September 1, 2017 (see below).  Specifically, to be qualified to serve as an impartial third party under Subchapter C, Chapter 154 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, additional training is required of Family Mediators and other third party neutrals on or before January 1, 2018.

“Section 154.052(b) Civil Practice and Remewdies Code is Amended as Follows:?(b) To qualify for an appointment as an impartial third party under this subchapter in a dispute relating to the parent child relationship, a person must complete the training required by subsection (A) and an additional 24 hours of training in the fields of family dynamics, child development, and family law, including a minimum of four hours of family violence dynamics training developed in consultation with a statewide family violence advocacy organization.

Notwithstanding Section 154.052, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this act, a person who satisfies the qualifications to be an impartial third party in effect immediately before the effective date of this act is not require to comply with the requirements imposed by that section, as amended by this Act, until January 1, 2018, to be qualified to serve as an impartial third party under Subchapter C, Chapter 154, Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.”

To meet these requirements, Mediators & Arbitrators of America (aka Mediators of Texas) is offering an intense 6 hour Domestic Violence class, which focuses on the following core components: Dynamics of Domestic Violence (myths and facts and impact of trauma and its presentations); Child Exposure and Child Welfare (effect of domestic violence on parenting, intersection of domestic violence and child abuse, and mandatory reporting requirements); Texas Statutory Framework (Tex/Fam presumptions around conservatorship when domestic violence is present, protective orders, reporting laws and procedures, impact of statutory requirements); and, Practice Guidance (mediation safety plans, ethical reporting requirements, stalking, and anger management). 

This class has been approved for MCLEs, CPEs and CEs by the State Bar of Texas, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and the Texas Education Agency: 5.50 Participatory Hours and 1 Ethics Hour to meet the new Statutory requirements.

To Register: visit www.mediatorsoftexas.com

Barbara Allen

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