The Family Court Support Worker Program provides and facilitates the person’s understanding of, and passage through, the family court system. The program works with other agencies to provide domestic violence victims with access to the support they need at every stage of the family court process.

Program Objectives

• Provide support to victims of domestic violence who are involved in the family court process
• Enhance client safety by reducing the risk of future violence
• Increase the access to services and supports
• Build the core competencies of service providers to support victims who are abused and involved in the family court system

Services and Supports

• Provide information to the client about the family court process
• Assist the client to record the history of abuse for court documentation
• Provide the client with safety planning, referrals for risk assessments where appropriate and assist with safety planning related to court attendances
• Provide a needs assessment and action plan
• Support the client to follow through on lawyers’ requests
• Assist the client through the legal aid process
• Debrief and discuss court outcomes, lawyer appointments, Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) meetings, consultations with duty counsel and next steps
• Refer to specialized services (both domestic violence specific and culturally relevant services) in the community, as appropriate
• Communicate with criminal court-based services, such as Victim/Witness Assistance Program (in accordance with appropriate protocol) where charges have been laid against the alleged offender
• Communicate with other family court-based services and referral sources to ensure seamless delivery of appropriate information and support
• Accompany the client to court proceedings where appropriate