In-Classroom
Live In-Classroom Training
Face-to-face instruction, discussion, demonstrations, documentation work, and scenario practice.
Curriculum
California Standard 5.20 Training Curriculum
A 24-hour curriculum integrating statutory duties, the January 1, 2026 Standard 5.20 amendments, child-focused safety, exchanges, supervised virtual visitation, ethics, communication, and objective documentation.
Program Structure
12 HoursLive instructor-led instruction
12 HoursGuided self-paced coursework
24 HoursTotal Academy program
75%Academy assessment requirement
Virtual Classroom
Live Instructor-Led Virtual Classroom Training
Scheduled, synchronous instruction with continuous camera-visible attendance and the same curriculum, activities, and completion standards.
Self-paced verification before class:
The full 12-hour self-paced component must be completed before the first live session. Required certificates and assignments must be submitted during check-in before live instruction starts. No credit is awarded for incomplete or late self-paced documentation.
Formal 24-Hour Topic Allocation
The Academy’s allocation follows California’s 24-hour training framework while preserving the required minimum subject areas. Topic sequencing may vary by cohort, but the tracked hour totals do not.
| Topic group | Live | Self-paced | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role, legal responsibilities, ethics, conflicts, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| Screening, monitoring, termination, safety planning, emergency response, and abduction procedures | 2.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Developmental needs of children | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Substance abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and mandated reporting | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| Recordkeeping, objective observation, incident documentation, and professional reports | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| Basic family and juvenile law, court orders, declarations, and local procedures | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| Supervised exchanges and supervised virtual visitation under the 2026 standard | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Applied scenarios, written exercises, knowledge checks, and assessment | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Total program hours | 12.0 | 12.0 | 24.0 |
The California mandated-reporter online course is included within the self-paced abuse-and-reporting topic group. It is included within the Academy’s 24-hour total and does not add extra hours.
Core Curriculum Modules
- California Family Code section 3200.5: Definitions, qualifications, the statutory training framework, Live Scan, TrustLine, declarations, contracts, records, and safety obligations.
- Judicial Council Standard 5.20: The 2026 standards for supervised visitation and exchange services, including supervised audiovisual virtual visitation.
- Role and responsibilities: Neutral monitoring, scope, enforcement, professional accountability, and limits on advice or advocacy.
- Screening and intake: Separate interviews, protective orders, allegations, child health needs, suitability, and written terms.
- Child development: Developmental needs, transitions, attachment considerations, stress, acute distress, and age-appropriate contact.
- Domestic violence, abuse, and substance use: Risk recognition, coercive control, sexual-abuse restrictions, privacy, and safety decisions.
- Mandatory reporting: Reasonable suspicion, reporting pathways, CDSS training, documentation, and communication.
- Safety planning: Security procedures, law-enforcement protocols, emergency response, abduction procedures, interruption, and termination.
- Court orders and service agreements: Operative terms, ambiguity, authorized participants, enforceable written conditions, and professional boundaries.
- Monitoring and exchanges: Active observation, arrival and departure controls, safe transfer, redirection, prohibited conduct, and exchange records.
- Supervised virtual visitation: Safety, privacy, developmental appropriateness, technology, internet access, and written policies.
- Objective documentation: Facts, direct statements, sequence, context, incident records, confidentiality, redaction, and neutral reports.
- Ethics and cultural humility: Conflicts, gifts, dual relationships, language access, bias awareness, confidentiality, and continuing development.
Applied Learning Activities
Court-Order Review
Identify operative provisions, authorized participants, exchange terms, virtual-contact conditions, and unresolved ambiguity.
Intake Scenarios
Practice separate screening, protective-order review, health and safety questions, written terms, and suitability decisions.
Observation Exercises
Separate facts, quotations, sequence, context, and provider actions from assumptions and conclusions.
Writing Practice
Prepare contact notes, visit and exchange records, incident entries, termination statements, and neutral reports.
Virtual-Service Planning
Develop age-appropriate, privacy-conscious procedures addressing platform use, location, equipment, internet access, and safety.
Professional Communication
Draft neutral scheduling, boundary, interruption, termination, and information-sharing messages.