The Family Assistance and Parent Support Program

Process and Implementation

The Family Assistance and Parent Support Program is an effective system which can be practically implemented by the courts.  The program is presented to the court with the assurance that workable solutions for the family have been arrived at with the input and support of all concerned parties.  Judicial case management will be streamlined significantly due to a standard convention applied to all case procedures and forms.  This will minimize the time necessary for the courts to review each parenting plan, as the court will already be familiar with the format and much of the content of the material.

The program’s overall implementation is setout in the steps below:

Step One – Introduction/Registration/Evaluation

Initial participation in the program is initiated by one or both parents.  They would consent and support the program’s fundamental principles.  After attending an introduction and registration session, one or both parents could then register with the program by signing the necessary consent forms.  Ideally, both parents would cooperatively register with the program prior to endorsement of the court.  If one parent does not wish to participate initially, he/she will be given the opportunity to register voluntarily at any future date.

Having registered, the family would then have an evaluation done to determine its specific needs.  A support team based on this evaluation will be assembled for the family.  The parents will then meet with the individual members of their team.  Acceptance forms will be submitted by all of the family’s assigned assistance team.  This ensures that all members of the participating family will have the necessary health and legal professionals involved.

Beginning with one of the various types of model parenting responsibility documents that most closely meets the family’s needs, the parenting responsibility plan will be further modified through consultation with program workers and participants to ideally address all of the family’s specific needs and concerns.  Current joint-custody status would be left as the status quo to ensure that neither parent will be able to act unilaterally in a manner that may impede their child’s ability to fully benefit from the program. This will also ensure that an uncooperative parent cannot create obstacles to the child’s parenting time with the other parent.

All documents will be prepared and assembled for presentation to the court as a complete package ready for endorsement.  The non-participating parent will be offered every opportunity to join in formulating the terms and conditions included in the family’s court Order prior to its endorsement.

Step Two – Court Endorsement

The completed documentation will be presented to the court ready to be incorporated into a court Order.  If one party refuses to participate, the court will hear the dissenting party’s argument.  If the dissenting party is unable to present valid and factual arguments as to why this program does not reasonably address the best interests of the children and should not be implemented, the court may give its endorsement by way of court Order.  In most cases this will be the only time that the family would have to appear in court. If a dissenting party is able to present valid arguments against implementation of the program, then the team helping the family will readdress these valid concerns and resubmit a revised proposal to the court.

Step Three – Application

During this step, Family Coordinators will commence routine communication with the family.  All significant and necessary program details will be carefully reviewed with both parents.  Parents will select their own personal support-person to work with their appointed team.  Educational materials and/or information on parenting-related courses will also be introduced to the parents.  Voluntary registration to courses specific to the parents needs will be encouraged.  Interaction between Family Coordinators and parents is voluntary at the request of the parents.

There are scheduled review times that parents are expected to attend which are set at the time of program’s implementation.  Family Coordinators are readily available and respond to either parent’s request for service in the event they experience a problem.

During the program family coordinators will keep records concerning the family’s participation and progress in the program.  Some aspects of record keeping would include a parent’s willingness to follow recommendations of the support team as well as the feedback from children and involved team members.

Step Four - Completion

The duration of the program will extend for a one-year period from the date of the court Order.  At its completion, the family’s support team would prepare and submit a final report of recommendations. This report will be based on their accumulated interaction and the combined pertinent input of the family. In most cases, the completion of the program will involve the family continuing on with the same parenting arrangements as during the program, but without the help or assistance of outside parties.

The majority of families, upon completion of the program, will have achieved an acceptable level of mutual cooperation because of the skills they have acquired skills and the settling of emotions over the period of time.  This will allow them to leave the program and continue with their working arrangement without assistance.

Program Continuation/Revision

The procedures and guidelines outlined in this program will effectively address the vast majority of family-conflict situations including high conflict situations.  It is recognized however that no program can offer solutions to all problems and that in a small number of cases conflict will not be brought within acceptable limits.  The willingness and capability of the participants’ play a role as well which the program has limited ability to influence.  For example, the program may not be effective where both parents have serious emotional or mental health difficulties.

At the very least, however, upon the completion of the 12 month duration of the program, enough information will be gathered from the family that it will be very clear, which, if any, of the two parents are unable to act in the best interests of the children.  With accurate information available at the end of the initial program period, the professionals involved can determine with greater accuracy what steps should be taken next.

Should the court have to be involved again, the court will have reliable, impartial information and recommendations reviewed by members of the community for it to formulate the next order. All parties can be assured that every possible opportunity was given to both parents to demonstrate their ability to parent the children and that all relevant facts were brought before the court.

At the end of the program the following options may be implemented;

·            The program is extended under the same conditions at it was originally implemented, or, modified at the mutual consent of both parties.  This option will usually be exercised in situations where significant progress has been made by the family but some problems still remain to be addressed.

·            A new court order is implemented with new terms and conditions which may involve a shift of custody to one of the parents, should one parent be shown unable to fulfill their parental responsibilities or act in the best interest of the child (eg. mental illness or personality disorders).  This option will be used in situations where one parent continues to be uncooperative or acts in a manner to frustrate the other parent or the child.

·            A new court order would be implemented with new terms and conditions which may involve a shift of custody to extended family members or to an outside agency such as the Children’s Aid Society should both parents be unable to fulfill their parental responsibilities.

Sept 13, 2000

This page is reprinted from "The Family Assistance and Parent Support Program" manual published by Family Conflict Resolution Services. For the latest version of the program manual contact the authors