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.
end
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 Harris County’s diverse population.
Expected Impact:
The program’s outcomes demonstrate strong community impact, high efficiency, and meaningful support for families navigating the Harris County Family District Courts. In 2025, the DRO received 1,500 referrals, reflecting both the demand for accessible mediation services and the Courts’ reliance on the program as a key resource. Of the cases mediated, 82% reached resolution in 2025, a rate that significantly reduces the need for contested hearings and helps families move forward more quickly and cooperatively. As of May 2026, DRO has received 695 referrals for mediation
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Alternative Dispute Resolution-Family Mediation Program |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 7/9/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: David W. Simpson, Executive Director
Attachments (if applicable): 2026 NACo Achievement Award