Join the DCACP - Online Application

Benefits include:

  • Affiliation with an academy of professionals committed to promoting collaborative practice as a method of resolving family law matters in the DC metropolitan area
  • Listing on the DCACP website as an active collaborative practitioner with link to your website
  • Mentoring and sharing of "best practices" with experienced collaborative professionals
  • Ongoing multi-disciplinary training and educational programs
  • Collaborative practice networking
  • Access to current model forms and documents
  • Notice of upcoming events

Membership Requirements - Attorneys

The DCACP has established the following requirements for eligibility of attorney members:

  1. Member licensed and in good standing of a local, mandatory bar association and maintain current professional liability insurance.
  2. If accepting family or divorce collaborative cases, minimum three (3) years of domestic relations legal experience, or other comparable experience approved by the executive committee, or alternatively, at least three (3) years experience in the area(s) of practice specified on the form below in which I will be accepting collaborative cases.
  3. Active domestic relations practice if I will be accepting family or divorce collaborative cases or in the area(s) of practice specified on the form below in which I will be accepting collaborative cases.
  4. Member in good standing of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”).
  5. Completed at least 12 hours of approved collaborative practice training.
  6. Payment of annual dues.
  7. Complete 30 (or more) hours of mediation training or training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest-based, narrative or transformative mediation programs). (Complete within 1 year of application.)
  8. Attend a minimum of 3 DCACP meetings per year.
  9. Complete at least 15 hours every 2 years of further training in Collaborative Practice or areas that support the principles of Collaborative Practice such as communication skills, advanced collaborative training beyond the minimum 12 hours of basic training, advanced mediation training, basic professional coach training.

Proceed to application

Membership Requirements - Mental Health Professionals

The DCACP has established the following requirements for eligibility of mental health professional members:

  1. Mental Health Professional licensed and in good standing with professional liability insurance as one of the following:
    1. Clinical or Counseling Psychologist – PhD
    2. Doctorate of Psychology – Psy D
    3. Licensed Clinical Social Worker – LCSW
    4. Marriage and Family Therapist – MFT
    5. Psychiatrist – MD
  2. Roles
    1. For the role of Coach or Mental Health Expert in family or divorce collaborative cases: Demonstration via curriculum vitae of background, education and experience in:
      1. Family and Couples Therapy and Family Systems Theory
      2. Child Development (Child Therapy encouraged)
      3. Stages of Family Development including the unique challenges of diversified families and children with special needs
      4. Divorce related issues, including its impact on family development and the transition post-divorce
      5. Conflict resolution for couples, co-parents and parent-child relationships
      6. High conflict divorce and its impact on children
    2. For the role of Child Specialist in family or divorce collaborative cases: Demonstration via curriculum vitae of background, education and experience in (b), (c), (d) and (f) above, as well as expertise in Child and Adolescent Therapy.
  3. Member in good standing of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”).
  4. Complete at least 12 hours of approved Collaborative Practice training (referral model) or 18-24 hours of approved Collaborative Practice Team training.
  5. If completed only referral model Collaborative Practice training at time of application, then complete at least 18-24 hours of approved Collaborative Practice Team training within 1 year of application.
  6. If accepting family or divorce collaborative cases, completed at least 3 hours of training aimed at giving the mental health professional a basic understanding of family law in DC.
  7. Payment of annual dues.
  8. Complete 30 (or more) hours of mediation training or training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative or transformative mediation programs). (Complete within 1 year of application.)
  9. Attend a minimum of three DCACP meetings per year.

Proceed to application

Membership Requirements - Financial Professionals

The DCACP has established the following requirements for eligibility of financial professional members:

  1. Financial Professional licensed or with designation in good standing as one of the following:
    1. Certified Financial Planner – CFP
    2. Certified Public Accountant – CPA
  2. If accepting family or divorce cases, demonstration of background, education and experience in:
    1. Financial aspects of divorce
    2. Cash management and spending plans
    3. Retirement and pension plans
    4. Income tax
    5. Investments
    6. Real estate
    7. Insurance
    8. Property Division
    9. Individual and family financial planning concepts
  3. Member in good standing of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”).
  4. Complete at least 12 hours of approved Collaborative Practice training (referral model) or 18-24 hours of approved Collaborative Practice Team training.
  5. If completed only referral model Collaborative Practice training at time of application, then complete at least 18-24 hours of approved Collaborative Practice Team training within 1 year of application.
  6. If accepting family or divorce cases, completed at least 20 hours of training in the financial fundamentals of divorce giving the financial professional a basic understanding of family law, including:
    1. Divorce procedures
    2. Property valuation and division
    3. Pensions and retirement plans
    4. Budgeting – income and expenses
    5. Child and spousal support
    6. Future income projections
    7. Financial implications of different scenarios for settlement
  7. Payment of annual dues.
  8. Complete 30 (or more) hours of mediation training or training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative or transformative mediation programs). (Complete within 1 year of application.)
  9. Attend a minimum of three DCACP meetings per year.
  10. Complete at least 15 hours every 2 years of further training in Collaborative Practice or areas that support the principles of Collaborative Practice such as communication skills, advanced collaborative training beyond the minimum 12 hours of basic training, advanced mediation training, basic professional coach training.

Proceed to application

Membership Requirements - Affiliated Professionals

The DCACP has established the following requirements for eligibility of affiliated professional members:

  1. Profession
    1. Licensed professional in good standing with professional liability insurance (if required by licensing agency or board) in one of the following professions: mortgage lender, mortgage broker, real estate agent, appraiser, settlement agent, business evaluator, or other licensed professional in a field regulated by a state licensing agency or board; OR
    2. Professionals whose field does not require a license may request that the Executive Committee excuse the licensing requirement based on special circumstances. (Applicant must complete a request for special consideration.)
  2. Member in good standing of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”).
  3. Complete at least 12 hours of approved Collaborative Practice training (referral model) or 18-24 hours of approved Collaborative Practice Team training.
  4. Payment of annual dues.
  5. Complete 30 (or more) hours of mediation training or training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative or transformative mediation programs). (Complete within 1 year of application.)
  6. Attend a minimum of 3 DCACP meetings per year; however, the following details apply:
    • Attorneys who have less than 3 years of practice (clerkships not included) in the field of family law (or civil, as applicable), must commit to attend 5 meetings per year and work with a DCACP mentor;
    • Mental Health Professionals with less than 3 years of practice post-degree and post-licensure must commit to attend 5 meetings per year and work with a DCACP mentor;
    • Financial Neutrals with less than 3 years of practice post-licensure must commit to attend 5 meetings per year and work with a DCACP mentor.
  7. Complete at least 15 hours every 2 years of further training in Collaborative Practice or areas that support the principles of Collaborative Practice such as communication skills, advanced collaborative training beyond the minimum 12 hours of basic training, advanced mediation training, basic professional coach training.

Print Application:

DCACP Membership Application

Online Application:

To start the process of joining DCACP, please complete the form below and submit payment.

Fill out my online form.