Chair

Raheena Dahya, Dahya Law (rdahyalaw@gmail.com)

Family Violence Section (FVS)

The FVS develops strategies, practices, and programming with respect to family violence.

Family dispute resolution professionals have a duty to “do no harm”. This includes knowing how to identify, assess, and manage the power imbalances and risks that arise from family violence; to  understand the elements of safety planning in family law matters, and to know how to safely terminate FDR processes and refer at-risk clients and families to safer alternatives. 

FDRIO’s FDRP Certification standards require that  all candidates have at least 21 hours of training in identifying, assessing, and managing power imbalances including family and intimate partner violence. 

FDRIO has developed comprehensive Screening Guidelines that all family mediators, arbitrators, and parenting coordinators are required to follow. 

This section supports the work of all FDRIO sections as best practices in screening for family violence in family mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination evolve. Through meetings, discussion, sharing of case law, current events and news, the FVS works on policies, procedures, advocacy, and education on this important topic.