The Colorado Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Resources

Association for Conflict Resolution. ACR is a professional organization dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution. http://www.acrnet.org/

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. AFCC is an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children an families through the resolution of family conflict. http://www.afccnet.org/
Colorado Chapter: http://www.coafcc.org/

Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee. The Boulder IDC is a non-profit organization of mental health professionals, attorneys, and mediators working in the areas of parental responsibility. Its purpose is to promote professions involved in helping children and parents through the process of divorce. http://www.boulderidc.org/

Colorado Bar Association. http://cobar.org/

Colorado Legal Services. CLS provides assistance for low-income Coloradans seeking legal assistance and Colorado legal advocates.http://coloradolegalservices.org/

Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations. CCMO is dedicated to providing leadership and support to the mediation profession, and information to the public. www.coloradomediation.org

Colorado Judicial Branch. http://www.courts.state.co.us/

Self Help Center. This site is intended to assist laypersons in learning about Colorado Rules & Laws, case filing requirements, available services in Colorado & general information to assist them in representing themselves in court matters. http://www.courts.state.co.us/Self_Help/Index.cfm

Colorado Courts. http://www.courts.state.co.us/

Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee. The MDICis a non-profit organization of mental health professionals, attorneys, and mediators working in the areas of parental responsibility. Its purpose is to promote professions involved in helping children and parents through the process of divorce. http://www.metrodenveridc.org/

Up to Parents. This is a free, confidential, and interactive website for divorcing and divorced parents at http://www.uptoparents.org/ or, for never-married parents, at http://www.proudtoparent.org.

CFI News (December 2011): Child and Family Investigators Pursuant to CRS 14-10-116.5 was amended again and was adopted and made effective as of 11.30.11 by Chief Justice Bender. The JDF 1318 form (Order Appointing Child and Family Investigator) was also revised to
reflect the new change. Click here or go to:

http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/Directives/Index.cfm

Highlights of the new CFI Chief Justice Directive:

• Establishes guidelines for appointment of CFIs
• State Court Administrators Office (SCAO) will develop a complaint form
• Clarifies complaint procedures for privately paid attorney and State paid non-attorney CFI's
• Establishes policy related to sanctions
• CFIs required to obtain and pay for CBI fingerprint and background checks on or before March 1, 2012
• SCAO to develop standardized CFI Affidavit and Disclosure document for CFIs to complete and submit
• SCAO will develop a state-wide eligibility roster of CFI's
• Presumptive maximum fee of $2,000 excludes testimony; presumptive fee for testimony is $500 (caps in place for report and testimony unless prior court approval is obtained)
• Modifies language concerning CFI’s authority to conduct certain types of evaluation or testing; drug and alcohol or other evaluations should only be done by the CFI if specifically ordered
by the court and only when such evaluation is the sole issue for which the appointment of the CFI was made
• Requires a specific date be established for the submission of CFI’s report
• Requires termination of the Order of Appointment upon entry of the final decree or post-decree orders
• Addresses the removal of quasi-judicial immunity from the Order of Appointment, by stating that the CFI is acting within the authority of the court’s order so long as s/he is following a
specific Order of Appointment to investigate and report
• Requires liability and malpractice insurance for all professionals
• SCAO will develop a standardized 40-hour curriculum and establish policies for the use of the curriculum before December 31, 2012

This list is not intended to be inclusive of all changes. CFIs should review the amended Chief Justice Directive carefully.

For more information contact Bill DeLisio at 303-837-3623 or at bill.delisio@judicial.state.co.us