42 Rule 3 Training

(a) To be eligible for appointment to the panel established pursuant to Rule 1 of this order, an individual must present appropriate documentation demonstrating the completion of 140 hours of training in a program or programs established or approved by the Court Administrator covering the following subjects:

(1) Mediation: 60 hours required, including a minimum of 28 hours basic mediation training and 32 hours divorce mediation, of which ten hours involve role play and debriefing activities.

(2) Domestic and Substance Abuse: 24 hours of basic and advanced training required, including eight hours basic domestic abuse, eight hours advanced domestic abuse, and eight hours substance abuse, including alcohol abuse. Some of these hours may be included in the divorce mediation training.

(3) Vermont Family Law and Court Procedures: 20 hours required of family law and family court procedures. Some of these hours may be included in the divorce mediation training.

(4) Family Dynamics and Child Development: 36 hours required, including 20 hours in psychology of families, specifically divorcing family dynamics (must include the effect of divorce on children, power imbalances, communication styles) and 16 hours of child development. Some of these hours may be included in the divorce mediation training.

(b) In addition, an individual who is appointed to the panel established pursuant to Rule 1 of this order must present appropriate documentation demonstrating the completion of the following training, either before appointment in a program or programs established or approved by the Court Administrator or after appointment through training provided by the Vermont Family Court Mediation Program, individual consultation with the Parent Coordination Case Supervisor, or regularly-scheduled parent coordinator consultation meetings:

(1) Parent Coordination Training: 12 hours required, including parent coordination protocols, working with high-conflict families, and the Standards of Practice for Parent Coordinators prepared pursuant to Rule 5 of this Order.

(2) Document Writing and Giving Testimony in Court: Eight hours required.

(c) After being appointed to the panel, a parent coordinator must sit with an experienced coordinator for two cases.