**Art. 1 Regulations concerning marriage and family counseling centers** Regulations concerning marriage and family counseling centers

The Department of Institutions, Division of Justice, performs the duties described in the law, additionally notifying the Council of State regarding the recognition of marriage and family counselors managed by private entities.

The operator of the counseling center must be specialized as a marital and family counselor or as a family mediator and possess proven experience within their area of specialization.

1. **The Marriage and Family Counselor** must possess a fundamental education and a specialization in couples and family matters that meets the criteria and minimum standards of the Romance and Ticino Federation of Marital Consultation Services (Couple+) or equivalent qualifications.

2. **The Family Mediator** must possess a fundamental education and a specialization in family mediation issued by the Swiss Federation for Mediation (FSM).

1. The application for the recognition of marriage and family counseling centers must be submitted to the Division of Justice, accompanied by the following information and documents

a) a list of the center's professionals and their degree of employment;

b) for each professional, their curriculum vitae and relevant training certificates;

c) for each professional, an extract from the criminal record specifically for private individuals;

d) for Swiss citizens, an updated civil status certificate; for foreign citizens, a birth certificate;

e) the exact designation of the center's premises.

2. Any modification of the data communicated with the application for recognition must be notified immediately.

Requests for the subsidy for the expansion and modernization of facilities, as well as for the furnishing and purchase of equipment intended for the counseling center, must be submitted to the Division of Justice accompanied by the cost estimate.

1. Applications for subsidies for the activities of the counselling center must be submitted to the Division of Justice every three years by March 31, starting from March 31, 2025.

2. Applications must be accompanied by the estimated accounts for the following three-year period, the final accounts for the preceding three-year period, and a statement of the emoluments received by the counselling center.

3. The funding and computable expenses are defined in the three-year performance agreement.

The Regulation concerning marital and family counseling centers of 11 November 2003 is repealed.

This Regulation comes into force immediately. [1]

Published in BU 2024, 225.

[1] Entry into force: October 4, 2024 - BU 2024, 225.