This past year the Child Protection Staff Lawyer (‘CPSL’) has provided a wide variety of legal services. Although the scope of this role is predominantly targeted at clients located in the GTA, the CPSL has also assisted eligible clients across the province with summary advice, general information, process mapping, resources and referrals. For clients located in the GTA, the CPSL has been able to provide all of these services, plus “enhanced” summary advice and formal retainers too. The CPSL has represented clients in Protection Applications at the Ontario Court of Justice, and assisted in matters involving the Child and Family Services Review Board tribunal (‘CFSRB’), as well as the Information and Privacy Commissioner (‘IPC’). In order to improve outcomes for clients, the CPSL has worked hard to develop positive working relationships with the Children’s Aid Societies especially Native Child and Family Services; and with other community partners such as Métis Nation of Ontario and Tungasuvvingat Inuit. The CPSL has been invited to speak at several conferences including at the Organization of Counsel for Children’s Aid Societies and has represented ALS on various committees such as the 311 Jarvis Indigenous Child Protection Committee and the Child Protection Best Practice Committee.
The CPSL has also collaborated with other staff and programs at ALS on a routine basis in order to provide clients (and their children) with culturally based, holistic and wrap-around supports.
EXAMPLES OF HOW A ONE STOP SHOP OR TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
ALS has been able to provide a blind, Inuk mother, whose first language is Inuktitut with robust services, tailored to her needs This includes but is not limited to: successfully negotiating a reunification plan in the child welfare matter; housing and trauma support after she left an abusive relationship until she was able to secure independent housing; we provided advocacy around human rights and disability issues (including consultation with ARCH); participation in Indigenous Dispute Resolution and several out-of-court-planning meetings; a referral to ALS’ Supervised Access Worker who supervised weekly visits instead of the Children’s Aid Society who had failed to accommodate the client’s needs; supports from the Victim Rights Advocate; and assistance connecting the client with Inuk elders and local community programs through Inuit specific services.
The CPSL was successful in a recent Summary Judgment Motion for an aunt of Indigenous children. She had been faced with verbal abuse and harassment by the paternal family who sought to remove the children from her care. ALS was able to support this family through Indigenous Dispute Resolution (Giiwedin Anang Circles), and ultimately obtain a final custody Order in favour of the client through the SJM. An ALS criminal lawyer successfully assisted her to have charges withdrawn by the Crown prior to the SJM. The ALS Victim Rights Advocate and the ALS Family Courtworker were both able to attend the SJM and ensure the family was supported in a culturally safe and appropriate manner.