Course Outline

1. Family Law 
   1. 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
   2. Allocation of resources
      1. Itemization, characterization, valuation and division of assets and liabilities
      2. Finances
      3. Taxes
   3. 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
2. Family Dynamics 
   1. Family Systems
   2. Blended Families
   3. Psychological aspects of divorce and parenting
3. Child Development 
   1. Stages of development
   2. Impact and response to divorce
4. Family Violence
   1. Screening
   2. Impact of statutory requirements
   3. Dynamics of family violence patterns, including power imbalances
   4. Effect of family violence on children
   5. Child abuse
   6. Substance abuse
   7. Stalking
   8. Protective orders
   9. Reporting laws and procedures
   10. Anger management
   11. Mediation safety plans, including caucus models
   12. Violent children
5. Practice Considerations
   1. Ethics 
   2. Agreement memorialization
   3. Unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
   4. Pro se cases
   5. Enforcement
   6. Styles-of-mediation
   7. Self-awareness
   8. Impact of cultural differences
6. Skills
   1. Communication
   2. Relationship-building
   3. Information gathering
   4. Problem solving
   5. Conflict resolution theory
   6. Referrals to professional support services 

                  Role Play: 6 hours minimum 

**This course is designed to satisfy the 40 classroom hours of training as indicated in the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act § 154.052, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 
This course also meets the Texas Mediator Trainers Roundtable's requirements.

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