The McLennan County DRC is excited to host a 20-hour training focused on CPS Mediation via Zoom videoconference!

The McLennan County DRC hosts 50+ CPS mediations per year, and many of our community partners will be on hand to share the tools and expertise gathered from years of successful practice. Our lead trainer, Matt Porter, will be joined by attorneys and guardians ad litem, DFPS staff, child advocates and local judges to provide both a wide and a deep introduction to the mediation of cases involving the child welfare system. Two days of informational workshops, panel discussions and role-play activities will culiminate in subsequent opportunties to observe active mediations with the DRC. Each training participant will be given the opportunity to observe a later mediation via Zoom as well as debrief with staff afterwards.

The McLennan County DRC has been hosting mediation and training opportunities via Zoom since April of 2020, and we believe that videoconferencing need not be a barrier to effective instruction and/or successful mediation. Our CPS Mediation Training will showcase using online tools to engage participants, and further training in using online tools can be provided as well.

Our goal is to prepare a deep pool of mediators who can serve alongside other child protective services professionals both online as well as in-person, meeting needs both now during a pandemic and in-the future. Because of the online format, we can also more easily accomodate a wider geographical range of participants, meeting needs both locally and statewide.

If you have any questions of you would like more information, feel free to contact us today!

 

Tentative Schedule of CPS Mediation Training: 

 

Friday, March 26

8:30a – 9:30a	Intro and Welcome
9:30a – 11:00a	Who is at the Table? Why are They There? What Can We Do for Them?
11:00a – 11:15a	Break
11:15a – 12:30p	CPS: Timeline of a Case  Ø  How did we get here? Ø  What is a Plan of Service? Ø  What happens if mediation does not produce agreement?
12:30p – 1:00p	Lunch
1:00p – 2:30p	Mediating Parents: Panel of Attorneys Ø  How do you prepare your clients? Ø  What do your clients respond best to? Ø  What should mediators avoid?
2:30p – 2:45p	Break
2:45p – 4:15p	What Do Kids Need Out of Mediation?  Ø  PMC/JMC arrangements Ø  post-termination contact?
4:15p - 4:30p	Break
4:30p - 5:30p	Coping with Mediation: Managing Secondary Trauma

Saturday, March 27

9:00a – 9:30a	Re-Cap and Preview
9:30a – 11:00a	Mediated Settlement Agreements
11:00a – 11:15a	Break
11:15a – 12:30p	CPS Mediation in Action: Panel of Mediators  Ø  What do [un]successful CPS mediations have in common? Ø  What are the most common problems/solutions in CPS mediation? Ø  What experiences have prepared you for CPS mediation? Ø  What are the best ways to pursue CPS mediation?
12:30p – 1:00p	Lunch
1:00p – 2:30p	Ethical Issues re: Disproportionality/Racial Equity/Domestic Violence
2:30p – 2:45p	Break
2:45p – 3:30p	Re-Cap and Review
3:30p – 4:15p	Judge’s Perspective
4:15p – 4:30p	Break
4:30p – 5:30p	Role Play Exercise