This rule establishes mandatory standards of practice for court-connected child protection mediation services. The rule details what must be included in an order for mediation, cases exempt from mediation, selecting a mediator, and scheduling the mediation process.
Additionally, the rule also details specific requirements a mediator must complete to be elgible to serve as a mediator in child protection cases including: (1) completing a general civil or domestic relations mediation training program, (2) having one or more of the following: a juris doctor degree, graduate degree in conflict resolution or behavioral sciences, 5 years experinece in child protection field or 40 hours of mediation experience over two years, (3) after mediator training the mediator must observe two general civil or domestic relations mediation proceedings conducted by an approved mediator and conduct one general civil or domestic relations mediation under the supervision and observation of an approved medaitor, and (4) complete a 15 hour advanced training program on child protection mediation practice or an 8 hour training program on domestic violence screening. The rule also notes mediators are required to complete 8 hours of advanced mediation training during each 2 year period.