RFP Title: SB331 FCS DV Toolkit, Curriculum Development & Training
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-12-DM
REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
REGARDING: SB331 FAMILY COURT SERVICES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TOOLKIT, CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
RFP NUMBER: CFCC-2026-12-DM
PROPOSALS DUE:
March 24, 2026, NO LATER THAN 1:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME
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RFP Title: SB331 FCS DV Toolkit, Curriculum Development & Training
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-12-DM
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1 The Judicial Council of California (“Judicial Council”) is the policymaking body
of the California court system, which includes 58 superior courts, the courts of
appeal, and the Supreme Court. Under the authority of the California Constitution
and the leadership of the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council ensures the fair,
impartial, and consistent administration of justice. It adopts rules and procedures
for court administration, develops and implements judicial branch policies, and
makes annual recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature. Judicial
Council staff implementing policies and supporting court operations. The Judicial
Council’s Center for Families, Children & the Courts (“CFCC”) supports programs
in court settings that improve practice and services for children, youth, parents,
families, and other court users.
1.2 The Family Court Services (FCS) Program, part of CFCC, provides training,
technical assistance, consultation, and support to court-based programs serving
families and children in child custody and visitation disputes. It assists trial court
staff who deliver family and child custody mediation, evaluation, and related
services.
1.3 Senate Bill (SB) 331 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 865), approved in October 2023, established
the Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence Act. The legislation adds Family
Code Section 3193, amends Government Code Section 68555, and adds Section
68555.5, all relating to child custody. These amendments took effect on November
17, 2023.
1.4 The Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence Act was enacted to strengthen
child safety in family court custody proceedings. SB 331 requires the Judicial
Council to establish ongoing judicial training programs for individuals involved in
domestic violence matters, including, but not limited to, judges, commissioners,
mediators, child custody recommending counselors, evaluators, and others as
deemed appropriate by the Judicial Council. The training program must
accommodate varying experience and education levels, from moderate to
proficient. It should improve the courts’ ability to recognize and respond to child
physical abuse, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and family trauma. It must
emphasize custody decisions that prioritize child safety and well-being are
culturally responsive and identify domestic violence related safety risks when
developing custody and visitation orders while also balancing parents’ legal rights.
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES
2.1 The Judicial Council seeks services of an expert or entity with specialized
knowledge of domestic violence and child abuse impacts on family systems, child
custody and visitation, and the cultural dynamics affecting families in the court
system. Building on the curriculum developed in 2025, the Judicial Council aims
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RFP Title: SB331 FCS DV Toolkit, Curriculum Development & Training
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-12-DM
to develop a comprehensive toolkit and curriculum for a series of in-person
training sessions for FCS professionals including court connected mediators, child
custody recommending counselors, evaluators, and their leadership.
The contractor will develop and deliver curriculum that supports the following:
1. Finalize a statewide FCS intake process that includes a Domestic
Violence (DV) assessment tool.
2. Create a comprehensive toolkit to guide FCS staff in:
a. Using the DV assessment tool effectively.
b. Applying information gathered through screening to inform
mediation practices and promote safe and effective mediation
sessions.
c. Incorporating sample language and follow-up questions to
support promising practices.
3. Training delivery.
a. Conduct six (6) in-person regional trainings across California.
Each up to three (3) hours in duration, with one separately
recorded session for all 6 regional trainings.
b. Develop and deliver three (3) SB 331 Domestic Violence On-
demand Training modules (approximately two hours each)
ensuring content is:
i. Legally accurate and current.
ii. Incorporates changes in the law, rules of court, and court
forms.
4. Qualified Presenters.
a. Sessions must be presented by subject matter experts.
b. Contractor may subcontract with Judicial Council approved
experts as needed.
c. At a minimum, the Presenter must have knowledge of the
assigned training topic and experience conducting live training
and video‑recorded instruction, with each Presenter approved in
advance by the Judicial Council.
5. Curriculum and materials.
a. Provide:
i. Written curriculum outline.
ii. Agenda with course descriptions and learning objectives.
iii. Presentation materials.
iv. Additional resources for each training module or session.
b. Contractor will meet regularly with Judicial Council staff to
review and approve content.
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RFP Title: SB331 FCS DV Toolkit, Curriculum Development & Training
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-12-DM
6. Technology requirement. Include a description of any technological
needs for in-person and virtual delivery.
7. Assessment. Include post-tests applicable to each module’s course
content for on-demand training education requirements.
The Judicial Council intends to award one Agreement with a term of 12 months
approximately from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. The available funding
for the resulting agreement will not exceed $150,000.00, which includes all
expenses. Funding is based on the California Governor’s Office of Emergency
Services Subrecipient Handbook FY 2025-2026, Part 6, Section 6.015 (Page 51 of
linked document) published by this program funder, was used to establish the
speaker rate. The RFP sets a maximum rate for speakers at $650.00 per day.
2.2 General Scope of Services Requirements
Contractor will meet regularly with the Judicial Council and keep them updated on
progress of the projects.
2.2.1 Project 1: Domestic Violence Training Toolkit Initiative
The Contractor shall:
1. Plan, consult on, and develop a culturally responsive and
trauma-informed DV Training Toolkit for use by court-connected
Family Court Services programs statewide.
2. At a minimum, the Toolkit must include:
a. Standardized intake forms and processes, including a
mediation-specific DV assessment tool.
b. Intake guidelines, policies, and procedures that apply
information gathered during screening within mediation
sessions.
c. Sample language and follow-up questions to support best
practices in DV-informed mediation.
d. Resources designed to promote the safety of all participants
engaged in mediation services.
3. Recommend and develop any additional toolkit components, job
aids, and implementation supports necessary to ensure consistent,
safe, and effective DV screening and mediation practices statewide.
2.2.2 Project 2: Curriculum Development and Training
The contractor shall:
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RFP Title: SB331 FCS DV Toolkit, Curriculum Development & Training
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-12-DM
1. Develop a training curriculum (“Curriculum”) aligned with the
Toolkit from Project 1.
2. Deliver six (6) in-person regional trainings across California, each
up to three (3) hours in duration.
3. Provide a separately recorded version (3-hour) of the material
presented during the live, in-person trainings, to be made available
for on-demand education.
4. Ensure the Curriculum reflects culturally responsive and
trauma-informed best practices.
2.2.3
Project 3: SB 331 Domestic Violence On-demand Training Series
The Contractor shall:
1. Develop and deliver three (3) separate on-demand DV training
modules, (approximately two hours each) designed to provide
advanced, in-depth curriculum on DV concepts, dynamics, and
application to mediation practices.
2. Combine these with the recorded Curriculum developed under
Section 2.2.2 above to provide nine (9) hours of unique on-demand
content.
3. Ensure all content is culturally responsive and trauma informed. The
training topics may be inclusive of the following:
a. Child sexual abuse.
b. Physical abuse.
c. Emotional abuse.
d. Coercive control.
e. Implicit and explicit bias related to parties involved in domestic
violence cases.
f. Trauma.
g. Long-and-short-term impacts of domestic violence and child
abuse on children.
h. The detriment to children of residing with a person who
perpetrates domestic violence.
i. That domestic violence can occur without a party seeking or
obtaining a restraining order, without a substantiated child
protective services finding, and without other documented
evidence of abuse.
j. Victim and perpetrator behavioral patterns and relationship
dynamics within the cycle of violence.
2.2.4
The successful bidder must be a subject matter expert in the topics identified
in this RFP or be able to secure qualified subject matter experts to support
the work. In addition, the successful bidder must demonstrate expertise in
developing and delivering educational programs for mediators, child
custody recommending counselors, evaluators, attorneys, and other family
court stakeholders.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
