Welcome and Introduction

Circle Of Our Children: Responding To Early Life Adversity & Nurturing Resiliency

• nature vs. nurture: brain science and child development
• prevalence of children and youth with special needs (chronic health, physical and developmental disorders—e.g. prematurity, FASD, Autism, obesity, asthma)
• prevalence of intentional and unintentional injuries in children and youth in BC
• social determinants of health: housing, education, employment, poverty
• adverse childhood experiences: impacts of parental addiction, mental health and relationship violence
• emerging “place based” initiatives and medical legal community partnerships to foster early development and address inequities in outcomes for vulnerable children and youth

Kate Hodgson — Executive Director, Network of Inner City Community Services, Vancouver
Dr. Christine A. Loock — Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, UBC; BC Children’s and Sunny Hill Hospitals, Vancouver
Dr. Lise Olsen — Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, UBC; Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver

Networking Break

Child Development: Impacts and Influences (cont’d)

Questions and Discussion

Lunch (on your own)

What are the Challenges For the Parent?

• do you have an accurate understanding of the parent’s reality?
• how can your understanding help your client?
• how can you know, and what can you do, if the parent is living with
  • drug and alcohol addiction
  • domestic violence 
  • mental health challenges
  • special needs: FAS, challenges, disabilities
  • poverty, housing and employment issues
  • problematic relationships with social worker or other service providers
  • culturally specific experiences of trauma

 

Henriette Chabot — Mental Health Legal Advocate, Child and Family Matters, Kettle Friendship Society, Vancouver
Judy Conlin-Wilson — Family and Domestic Violence Counselor, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, New Westminster and Burnaby
Leanne Harder, RSW, MAdEd — Olive Branch Consulting, Vancouver
Erin Myles, BSW — Acting Team Leader RIN, Aboriginal Child and Family Services, Ministry of Children and Family Development, Burnaby

 

Networking Break

Legal Approaches to Assisting Families

• concurrent FRA proceedings; competing applications for custody in CFCSA proceedings
• utilizing mental health experts and services: benefits and risks
• access to resources: advocacy groups, services, ministry resources
• getting informed instructions: ethical issues

 

Michael R. Bradshaw — Michael Bradshaw Law Corporation, Vancouver
Margot L. Fleming — Somers & Company, New Westminster
Katrina M.L. Harry — Pacific Coast Law Associates, Vancouver
Nancy L. Kinsman — Kinsman Law Group, Richmond 
Amanda J. Rose — Evans Rose, New Westminster 
Robin J. Stewart — Stewart Feenie, Vancouver