Who We Are and What We're Doing

Background
With the goal of developing statewide standards for the basic 40-hour mediation training, an informal coalition of major Texas mediation training organizations formed in 1992. Naming itself the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, the group provided a forum for fostering productive dialogue and strengthening the collegial relationships among mediation trainers.

In 1994, Roundtable members reached consensus on standards for basic mediation training programs to insure the quality of mediation training programs throughout the state. One of the first of such training standards in the nation, the Roundtable standards were published in 1995 by the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, now merged with ACR, the Association of Conflict Resolution. After accomplishing its goal, the Roundtable dispersed. It then reinstituted itself in 1999 and formalized its structure as a way to have a more effective voice in the mediator credentialing initiative in Texas. Today, the Roundtable is made up of general membership and a fifteen member governing council comprised of representatives of many of the major mediation training organizations in Texas.

The goals of the Roundtable were redefined to include:
1. Design, update, and promulgate standards for mediation training
2. Create eligibility standards for mediation trainers
3. Provide members with support including resources, networking, and training

Standards
With new initiative and revived energy, the Roundtable developed two new sets of training standards and revised the 40 hour basic mediation training standards.

1. 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training Standards
   
   The training standards from 1994 were revised in 2003 and include nine minimum areas of focus including:
   
1. History of Mediation
2. Overview of ADR Legislation in Texas
3. Conflict Resolution Theory
4. Mediation Theory and Practice
5. Mediation Process and Techniques
6. Self Awareness of Trainee
7. Ethics
8. Communication Skills
9. Professional Considerations

The standards have been developed in a way that recognizes diversity in the mediation field, including diversity of approaches to training and to mediation. The standards also cover training methodology and administration.

2. 30-Hour Family Mediation Training Standards
   The standards for mediations involving parent-child relationships were finalized in September of 2000. The standards exceed the twenty-four hours recommended in the Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code, § 154.052 and are consistent with the standards developed by AFM (Academy of Family Mediators, now merged with ACR, Association of Conflict Resolution). The Roundtable felt that it was important to add issues of domestic violence to the curriculum and to add more time dedicated to role plays. The same administrative procedures required for the 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training Standards apply to these as well.
   
   
   
   The six main topics that should be included are:
   
1. Family law (minimum of four hours)
2. Family dynamics (minimum of three hours)
3. Child development (minimum of two hours)
4. Family violence (minimum of four hours)
5. Practice considerations (including minimum of two hours for ethics)
6. Skills (including minimum of six hours for role play)
   
   
3. Continuing Education Ethics Training for Mediators
   The standards for Ethics Training for Mediators was adopted in 2003 and requires that every mediation ethics course include the objective to familiarize participants with and/or raise awareness of common elements involved in the ethical practice of mediation.

It is strongly recommended that every mediation ethics course include one or more of the following:

1. Stress the duty to uphold the integrity of the mediation profession by maintaining a working knowledge and adherence to prevailing codes of ethics;
2. Raise awareness of common mediation ethical controversies;
3. Enhance participants’ ability to identify and recognize, analyze, and/or appropriately respond to ethical issues that arise in relation to a mediation session;
4. Raise awareness of personal ethics; and
5. Identify possible consequences of unethical behavior.

Annual Training for Mediation Trainers
As a way to support professional development for Texas mediation trainers, TMTR has sponsored annual training sessions on the following topics:

• 1999 Assessing Mediator Performance
• 2000 Training Techniques for Effective Role Plays
• 2001 Instructional Techniques for Adult Learning Styles
• 2002 Teaching Mediation Ethics: Issues, Processes and Techniques
• 2003 Beyond Competence: Multiple Ways of Knowing in Mediation

Criteria for Membership
A Regular Member is defined as a person who:

1. Has an interest in training
2. Endorses the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable standards for basic and family training,
3. Pays annual dues

A Council Member is defined as a person who:

1. Is an experienced trainer
2. Has served as mediator for 20 sessions or 100 hours
3. Endorses the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable standards
4. Belongs to at least one other professional mediation organization
5. Pays annual dues

What's Next?
The Roundtable will be promoting the use of the training assessment tool for the 40-hour basic mediation training. This tool was developed for use by trainers and consumers in keeping with its quest to protect the integrity of mediation training. The Roundtable will continue to provide trainer resources and update its website with new training tips and information. For more detailed information on standards, application for membership, or upcoming meetings.

Written by: Tracy Tarver - Co-convener of TMTR
October, 2004