The ACR Family Section has a long-standing commitment to maintaining high standards of education and training, and actively attempts to ensure the integrity of those standards. Approval is granted to Family and Divorce Mediation Training programs based on the integration of the trainer's qualifications, the program design and the print materials submitted.
Trainings are to meet 15 identified outcomes important to family mediation, and are to have at least one trainer who is an ACR Advanced Practitioner present at all times during the training.
Ownership of each approved training program is retained by the organization.
Mediation Training Programs approved by the ACR Family Section should ensure that participants can demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:
1. Ability to explain what mediation is (within the dispute resolution context) and what a mediator does;
2. Awareness of theories and current research and literature underlying conflict and its resolution, and their application to family mediation;
3. Ability to contract for mediation services;
4. Ability to screen for appropriateness of mediation, including knowledge and ability to screen for domestic violence and an awareness of appropriate responses when domestic violence or its potential has been identified;
5. Ability to assist the parties in surfacing and framing the topics to be discussed in mediation;
6. * Awareness of the consequences of separation/divorce for adults and children
7. * Ability to work with the substantive information encountered in separation/divorce mediation
8. Ability to build a working relationship and a constructive process with the parties
9. Ability to facilitate communication between the parties by using specific skills (e.g., active listening, reframing)
10. * 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, etc.;
11. Knowledge of conflict management skills;
12. Understanding concepts of mediator influence and neutrality;
13. Knowledge of standards of practice and how ethical issues are resolved;
14. Ability to recognize when the assistance of other professionals might be helpful to the mediation process and to facilitate this discussion with the parties; and
15. Awareness of what additional knowledge/skills/experience/supervision may be necessary for the successful practice of mediation and how to get it.
* For 30-hour Family Mediation Programs, substitute appropriate content area(s).
Application Fee: $400
Download an Application for Approval.