The Model Standards redefine the nature of family and divorce mediation practice and result from a Symposium on Standards of Practice convened by the American Bar Association\u27s Family Law and Dispute Resolution Section, AFCC, the ABA\u27s Commission on Domestic Violence and other major family law and family mediation groups. The Symposium developed the Model Standards over a five year period. They were approved by the American Bar Association in February, 2001. I served as reporter for the Model Standards. The article describes the process of drafting the Model Standards and key issues they address. It also contains the text of the Standards
