| name | access-to-mediation |
| description | Open-source family mediation practice assistant grounded in the 2025 AFCC/ABA Model Standards for Family and Divorce Mediation, the 2005 ABA/AAA/ACR Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators, and the NCTDR/ICODR Online Dispute Resolution Standards (2022, ISO 32122) with AI Guidance (2026). Covers intake screening, domestic abuse screening, child maltreatment protocols, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest checks, agreement drafting, parenting plan facilitation, technology/ODR compliance, AI use assessment and disclosure, mediator competence tracking, fee disclosures, case management, termination protocols, and ethics compliance. Use for ANY family mediation task: intake, screening, session planning, agreement drafting, parenting plans, domestic abuse assessment, child voice inclusion, confidentiality management, conflict checks, fee structures, ODR/technology compliance, AI ethics and disclosure, mediator training logs, termination decisions, ethics questions, court-connected program administration, or self-represented litigant support. Trigger for "mediation", "mediator", "family dispute", "divorce mediation", "parenting plan", "co-parenting agreement", "custody mediation", "mediation intake", "mediation screening", "domestic abuse screening mediation", "child maltreatment mediation", "mediation confidentiality", "agreement to mediate", "mediation ethics", "ODR mediation", "ODR standards", "AI in mediation", "AI disclosure", "NCTDR", "ICODR", "ISO 32122", "shuttle mediation", "caucus", "mediator training", "AFCC standards", "ACR standards", "Model Standards", or any family mediation workflow.
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Access to Mediation
An open-source, standards-compliant practice assistant for family mediators.
Built on three authoritative frameworks:
- 2025 AFCC/ABA Model Standards for Family and Divorce Mediation — the ethical cornerstone for family/divorce mediation, developed by the AFCC, ABA Family Law Section, ABA Dispute Resolution Section, ACR, and APFM (unanimously approved May 2025).
- 2005 ABA/AAA/ACR Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators — the nine general ethical standards applicable to all mediation practice contexts.
- NCTDR/ICODR Online Dispute Resolution Standards (2022) — nine interdependent standards for technology-assisted dispute resolution (Accessible, Accountable, Competent, Confidential, Equal, Fair and Impartial, Legal, Secure, Transparent), adopted as ISO 32122 (March 2025), with companion AI Guidance for Third Parties (2026) extending these standards to artificial intelligence use.
Disclaimer: This tool provides educational information and practice support templates grounded in published model standards. It does not constitute legal advice, therapy, or a substitute for professional judgment. Mediators must comply with applicable state law, court rules, and their own professional licensing requirements, which may differ from or supersede these model standards.
Quick Reference: Standards Map
| # | 2025 Family Standards (AFCC/ABA) | 2005 General Standards (ABA/AAA/ACR) | NCTDR/ICODR ODR Standards (2022) |
|---|
| I | Self-Determination | Self-Determination | Equal |
| II | Informed Decision-Making | Impartiality | Fair and Impartial |
| III | Education of Parties | Conflicts of Interest | Transparent |
| IV | Barriers to Participation & Process Modification | Competence | Accessible, Competent |
| V | Domestic Abuse | Confidentiality | Confidential, Secure |
| VI | Child Maltreatment | Quality of the Process | Accountable |
| VII | Impartiality & Conflict of Interest | Advertising & Solicitation | Fair and Impartial, Transparent |
| VIII | Confidentiality | Fees & Other Charges | Confidential, Secure |
| IX | Technology | Advancement of Mediation Practice | All 9 ODR Standards |
| X | Voice of the Child | — | Equal |
| XI | Mediator Qualifications & Ongoing Education | — | Competent |
| XII | Suspension & Termination | — | Accountable |
| XIII | Fees | — | Transparent |
| XIV | Advertising & Marketing | — | Transparent, Legal |
Workflow Router
Based on the mediator's current task, read the relevant reference file(s):
Pre-Mediation
| Task | Reference File |
|---|
| New case intake & initial screening | references/01-intake-screening.md |
| Domestic abuse screening (mandatory) | references/02-domestic-abuse-screening.md |
| Child maltreatment assessment | references/03-child-maltreatment.md |
| Conflict-of-interest / bias check | references/04-impartiality-conflicts.md |
| Prepare Agreement to Mediate | references/05-agreement-to-mediate.md |
| Technology / ODR readiness assessment | references/06-technology-odr.md |
| ODR standards compliance / AI use assessment | references/19-odr-standards.md |
During Mediation
| Task | Reference File |
|---|
| Session planning & facilitation | references/07-session-facilitation.md |
| Including the child's voice | references/08-voice-of-child.md |
| Parenting plan development | references/09-parenting-plans.md |
| Managing barriers to participation | references/10-barriers-modifications.md |
| Confidentiality management | references/11-confidentiality.md |
Post-Mediation / Practice Management
| Task | Reference File |
|---|
| Agreement drafting & review | references/12-agreement-drafting.md |
| Suspension / termination decisions | references/13-suspension-termination.md |
| Fee disclosure & management | references/14-fees.md |
| Mediator qualifications & training log | references/15-qualifications-training.md |
| Advertising & marketing compliance | references/16-advertising.md |
| Ethics & compliance self-audit | references/17-ethics-compliance.md |
For Parties
| Task | Reference File |
|---|
| Understanding agreement terms | references/18-agreement-plain-language.md |
Challenging Situations
| Task | Reference File |
|---|
| "What do I do when..." scenarios | scenarios/scenario-library.md |
Templates (ready-to-use documents)
| Template | Markdown | Word |
|---|
| Intake Questionnaire | templates/intake-questionnaire.md | docs/intake-questionnaire.docx |
| Domestic Abuse Screening Checklist | templates/domestic-abuse-screening-checklist.md | — |
| Agreement to Mediate | templates/agreement-to-mediate.md | docs/agreement-to-mediate.docx |
| Conflict-of-Interest Disclosure | templates/conflict-of-interest-disclosure.md | — |
| Parenting Plan Worksheet | templates/parenting-plan-worksheet.md | — |
| Mediation Summary (court-neutral) | templates/mediation-summary.md | — |
| Settlement Agreement | templates/mediation-settlement-agreement.md | — |
| Session Notes | templates/session-notes.md | — |
| Safety Plan (DV/High-Conflict) | templates/safety-plan.md | — |
| Post-Mediation Checklist | templates/post-mediation-checklist.md | — |
| Termination Notice | templates/termination-notice.md | — |
| Mediator Training Log | templates/mediator-training-log.md | — |
| Technology Consent Form | templates/technology-consent.md | — |
| AI Use Disclosure & Assessment | templates/ai-use-disclosure.md | — |
| Fee Disclosure Statement | templates/fee-disclosure.md | — |
Core Principles (Always Apply)
Every output from this skill must reflect these non-negotiable principles drawn from both sets of model standards:
- Self-Determination: The mediator supports voluntary, autonomous decision-making. Never pressure parties toward settlement.
- Impartiality: Free from favoritism, bias, prejudice, and conflicts of interest in word, action, and appearance.
- Informed Decision-Making: Parties have access to sufficient information to make decisions. Encourage independent legal counsel.
- Safety First: Screen for domestic abuse and child maltreatment before and throughout mediation. Suspend or terminate when safety cannot be ensured.
- Child-Centered: Amplify the voice of the child. Parenting plans must protect physical safety and psychological wellbeing.
- Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of all information acquired in mediation unless permitted or required by law, rule, or party agreement to reveal it.
- Competence: Mediators must be qualified by education, training, and experience. Maintain ongoing professional development.
- Cultural Humility: Respect diversity in culture, religion, immigration status, language, and socio-economic status.
- Technology Competence: Use technology competently; obtain informed consent; implement robust data security. When using AI, comply with NCTDR/ICODR ODR Standards and AI Guidance — maintain human oversight, verify AI outputs, monitor for bias, and disclose AI's role to parties.
- Transparency: Truthful advertising, clear fee disclosures, honest representation of qualifications, and full disclosure of AI use including its influence on options, decisions, and outcomes.
Guardrails
- No legal advice: This tool does not provide legal advice. Always recommend independent attorney review.
- No therapy: This tool does not provide therapeutic guidance. Refer to licensed professionals.
- No mandatory reporting decisions: Flag potential reporting obligations but do not make the reporting decision for the mediator. Cite applicable law references only.
- No bias: All outputs must be neutral and avoid favoring either party.
- Trauma-informed language: Use calm, empathetic, non-accusatory language throughout.
- Jurisdiction-aware: Note that model standards do not have the force of law unless adopted by a court or regulatory authority. Mediators must check local rules.
How to Use This Skill
- Identify your task from the Workflow Router above.
- Read the relevant reference file — it contains the applicable standards language, implementation guidance, and checklists.
- Use the template if you need a ready-to-customize document.
- Apply the Core Principles to every output.
- Check the Ethics & Compliance self-audit periodically.
Standards Sources
- 2025 Model Standards for Family and Divorce Mediation — AFCC & ABA Family Law Section Task Force (Chair: Stacy Heard, JD; Nancy Ver Steegh, JD, MSW; Reporter: Donna Erez-Navot, JD, BSW). Endorsed by AFCC, ACR, APFM, ABA Section of Family Law, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. Source: AFCC / ACR
- 2005 Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators — Joint project of ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, AAA, and ACR. Approved August–September 2005. Source: ABA / ACR / AAA/ICDR
- NCTDR/ICODR Online Dispute Resolution Standards — Approved April 2022 by the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR) and International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR). Adopted as ISO 32122 (March 2025). Source: ICODR / NCTDR
- NCTDR/ICODR AI Guidance for Third Parties (2026) — Guidance for applying ODR Standards to artificial intelligence use in dispute resolution. Source: NCTDR / ICODR
Scenarios — "What Do I Do When..."
→ See scenarios/scenario-library.md for 25 standards-based practice scenarios:
Abuse disclosed in joint session, financial disclosure refusal, child refusing a parent, attorney domination, intoxicated party, child maltreatment allegations, premature agreement, threats during session, mid-case conflict of interest, recording requests, outcome pressure, cultural/religious conflicts, mental health impairment, subpoenas, child as decision-maker, unbalanced representation, relocation, duress, technology failure, bad-faith delay, affordability barriers, new partner at mediation, hidden income discovery, mid-case maltreatment allegation, and cognitive disability accommodation.
Workflow Diagrams
→ See references/workflow-diagrams.md for 17 Mermaid decision-flow diagrams:
- Intake & Screening Flow
- Domestic Abuse Screening Decision Tree
- Child Maltreatment Response Protocol
- Conflict of Interest Decision Flow
- Suspension & Termination Decision
- Full Mediation Process Overview
7–16. Tool-specific workflows (Party Preparation, Case Lifecycle, Risk Assessment, Agreement Generation, Ethical Decision Engine, Conflict Check, Child Support, Training Simulator, Practice Analytics, Complete Tool Ecosystem)
- AI Use Assessment Workflow (NCTDR/ICODR ODR Standards)
Interactive Tools (React)
→ See the app/ directory for 20 interactive React components:
Dashboards
| Tool | File | Description |
|---|
| Mediator Dashboard | app/mediator-dashboard.jsx | Practice hub — quick actions, case management, phase-based workflow routing to tools, templates, and references |
| Party Welcome | app/party-welcome.jsx | Guided onboarding — "What brings you here?" router with 4 paths and step-by-step checklists |
For Mediators
| Tool | File | Description |
|---|
| Parenting Plan Builder | app/parenting-plan-builder.jsx | 50+ provisions across 8 categories with notes and export |
| Compliance Dashboard | app/compliance-dashboard.jsx | Self-audit with scoring, gap analysis, and corrective actions |
| CE Training Tracker | app/ce-tracker.jsx | Track hours against 2025 required topics with gap alerts |
| Agreement Clause Library | app/clause-library.jsx | 40+ searchable, copyable clause templates for agreement drafting |
| Intake Workflow | app/intake-workflow.jsx | Step-by-step intake process with compliance tracking and template links |
| Session Timer & Billing | app/session-timer.jsx | Time tracking, per-case billing, and invoice export |
| Agreement Generator | app/agreement-generator.jsx | Assemble complete draft agreements from clauses with auto-filled variables |
| Risk Assessment | app/risk-assessment.jsx | Scored DV/safety screening with 30+ indicators, risk levels, and process recommendations |
| Case Analytics | app/case-analytics.jsx | Practice metrics: agreement rates, case types, revenue, DV compliance, filtered reports |
| Ethical Decision Engine | app/decision-engine.jsx | Interactive decision trees for ethical dilemmas with standards-based recommendations |
| Conflict Check Database | app/conflict-check.jsx | Track past clients, auto-detect conflicts on new cases |
| Training Simulator | app/training-simulator.jsx | 12 interactive training scenarios with multiple-choice feedback and scoring |
For Parties (Save Time & Money)
| Tool | File | Description |
|---|
| Mediation Readiness | app/mediation-prep.jsx | Step-by-step preparation: issues, priorities, children's needs, document checklist, questions |
| Financial Disclosure | app/financial-disclosure.jsx | Income, expenses, assets, and debts worksheet with summary and download |
| Schedule Visualizer | app/schedule-visualizer.jsx | See custody schedules on a real calendar with time-split percentages |
| Cost Estimator | app/cost-estimator.jsx | Estimate total mediation cost based on issues and complexity |
| Compliance Tracker | app/compliance-tracker.jsx | Track whether agreement terms are being followed post-mediation |
| Child Support Estimator | app/child-support-calc.jsx | State-specific guideline calculations with income shares and percentage models |
DOCX Templates & CLE Presentation
→ See the docs/ directory:
| File | Description |
|---|
docs/intake-questionnaire.docx | Professional Word intake form |
docs/agreement-to-mediate.docx | Professional Word agreement template |
docs/2025-model-standards-cle-presentation.pptx | 10-slide CLE/CEU presentation |
docs/index.html | GitHub Pages site |
Jurisdiction Modules
→ See the jurisdictions/ directory for state-specific statutes, confidentiality rules, mandatory reporting, DV provisions, and mediator qualifications:
| State | File |
|---|
| California | jurisdictions/california/jurisdiction.md |
| Florida | jurisdictions/florida/jurisdiction.md |
| Missouri | jurisdictions/missouri/jurisdiction.md |
| New York | jurisdictions/new-york/jurisdiction.md |
| Texas | jurisdictions/texas/jurisdiction.md |
| Template | jurisdictions/TEMPLATE.md |
Case Management Schema
→ See scripts/airtable-schema.md for an Airtable / CSV schema with:
- Cases table (standards-compliance fields built in)
- Sessions table
- Training log table
- Compliance audit table
Related Professional Guidelines
→ See references/related-guidelines.md for cross-references to AFCC practice guidelines, international standards, and key research.
License
This repository is released under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.
The model standards referenced herein are published by AFCC, ABA, AAA, and ACR. This project provides educational commentary, implementation guidance, and practice templates — it does not reproduce the full text of the standards. Mediators should obtain and review the original standards from the issuing organizations.
