25-4-58.1.
Minimum qualifications for family court mediators.
To be eligible as a court
appointed family court mediator under § 25-4-56, a mediator must have the following minimum
qualifications:
(1)
A mediator must file an approved application on the prescribed form with the presiding
judge for the circuit or circuits in which the mediator will conduct mediations. See
prescribed form attached as Exhibit A.
(2)
A mediator must have both a minimum of forty (40) hours mediation training, plus
experience in actual mediation sessions by consulting with a mediator approved under this
rule for at least three mediation sessions. In place of forty (40) hours' training and
consultation, a person may, with court approval, qualify as a mediator if that person has
had five years' experience in mediating custody and visitation issues with a minimum of
twenty (20) mediations during that period. A mediator must have competence in the
following areas:
(a)
General knowledge of the South Dakota court system and its procedures in
contested family matters;
(b)
General knowledge of South Dakota family law, especially as applied to custody
and visitation issues;
(c)
Knowledge of child development and specifically the impact of divorce or
separation on family members;
(d)
Knowledge of resources available in the state to which the parties and the children
can be referred for assistance;
(e)
Knowledge of interviewing and mediation techniques applicable to the family
setting.
(3)
A mediator must be committed to and participate in continuing education courses.
EXHIBIT A
Name: ___________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Day time Phone: ________________________________________________________
Instructions: Please complete the following questionnaire as specified under each section. If
additional space is needed, attach a sheet for each area making sure to indicate the section of the
questionnaire to which you are responding. This form must be filed with the Presiding Judge for
each circuit in which you intend to participate in court appointed mediation.
1) Provide your professional background including degree(s), certificate(s), practice
specialization(s), years of experience and special training:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2) Provide a full and complete disclosure of all professional employment experiences whether in
the field of mediation or in any other field:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3) Provide complete information regarding any training, seminars, workshops, etc., you deem
pertinent to mediation:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4) Provide the number of mediations in which you have been involved giving approximate dates
of those mediations if available. Please indicate how many of the mediations were successful.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5) Describe methods of mediation you have used and time required to conduct a typical
mediation:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6) Please describe how fees and costs are calculated for completion of a typical mediation:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7) Please describe the requirements for payment of fees:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
I am aware of and agree to abide by the principles and guidelines set out in the Interim
Standards for Mediators as promulgated by the Supreme Court of South Dakota.
________________________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________________________
Date
NOTE: This form must be updated as changes to the information occur or at least annually.
Approved:
________________________________________________________
Presiding Circuit Judge
Source: Supreme Court Rule 96-7; Supreme Court Rule 97-41; SL 2012, ch 262 (Supreme
Court Rule 12-08), eff. July 1, 2012.