Primary Department: Domestic Relations
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson, Executive Director
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Transmittal by Domestic Relations of a 2026 Achievement Award received from The National Association of Counties for the Alternative Dispute Resolution-Family Mediation Program.
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Background and Discussion:
The DRO was established by Harris County Commissioners Court in 1983. Mediation began in Texas with the passage of the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Action in 1987. In 1993, a group of family legal professionals petitioned Commissioners Court to expand mediation into the family arena. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Division was created within the DRO in 1996 to serve families who lacked the financial means for private mediation. The Division initially provided mediation in temporary orders only, but later expanded to include final orders, including cases with and without children, and to support issues such as conservatorship, possession and access, child support, and simple property division. Income eligibility guidelines were set to ensure services reached families with the greatest financial need. Initially, private lawyers volunteered to mediate with DRO licensed mental health professionals employed to deliver the mediation services. At present, only DRO staff deliver mediation services. Bilingual mediation capacity was incorporated to better serve Harri...
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