CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

Katrina Harry — Lead Lawyer, Parents Legal Centre, Legal Services Society of BC, Vancouver
Patricia L. MacDonald — Patricia L. MacDonald Law Corporation, Stewart Feenie, Vancouver

Child Protection Reports and Investigations

• legal obligation to report—s. 14 CFCS Act
  • duty under Act
  • failure to report—offence and penalties
  • false (malicious) reporting—offence and penalties
  • no duty to report during pregnancy if no other children
• protection of informant identity—s. 14 CFCS Act
• protection mandate—s. 13 CFCS Act
  • s. 13 grounds for protection
  • domestic violence initiatives
  • special case emotional abuse—s. 13(1)(e) and s. 13(2) CFCS Act
• director’s obligation to act on reports—s. 16 CFCS Act
  • initial assessment
    • screening descriptions
    • screening tools
    • centralized screening development
  • assessment process—s. 16(1.1) and (1.2) CFCS Act
  • primary remedial/support options
    • s. 6 voluntary care agreements, s. 7 special needs agreements, referrals to community services
    • Family Development Response (FDR)
    • “safety plans”—s. 16(2)(b.1)(ii)(A) and (B)
  • community service options/alternatives—Fir Square Model, BC Women’s Hospital
    • description of Fir Square
    • Fir Square services
    • Fir Square and child protection involvement
      • prior to birth
      • post birth
    • Fir Square interactions with MCFD
    • discharge planning
  • investigation—s. 16(2)(c) CFCS Act
    • how is this different from assessments

Meena Dhillon — Social Worker, New Westminster After Hours MCFD (SQD), Meena Dhillon Law Corporation, Port Coquitlam
Yolanda Drost, BSW — Social Team Leader, MCFD Vancouver North Intake and Assessment, Vancouver
Serena Kullar — Social Worker, Fir Square Unit, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver
Robin J. Stewart — Barrister & Solicitor (ret'd) and former counsel for Director of Child, Family and Community Service (MCFD), Vancouver

Questions & Discussion

Networking Break

Presentation Hearings

• placement options – s. 8 voluntary care agreements
• Family Law Act—who is director allowed to return to?
• collaborative meetings best practices
  • collaborative process
  • Family Case Planning Conference
• s. 13 concerns
• length of interim order—test for presentation hearing

Wendy Bernt — Pearlman Lindholm, Lawyers, Victoria
Lucinda Ferdon, MSW — Collaborative Practice Facilitator, Ministry for Children and Family Development, Vancouver
Katrina Harry — Lead Lawyer, Parents Legal Centre, Legal Services Society of BC, Vancouver

Questions & Discussion

Networking Lunch

Video (optional attendance)—run during Lunch: "Young People's Views on Justice: Their Lived Realities"

VACFSS Youth Advisory Committee — Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society, Vancouver 

Protection Hearings

• CFCSA s. 60—is there a finding that “child is in need of protection”?
• how can parents address protection concerns?
  • resources available
  • MCFD required to provide services
• requirement to serve band if child is Aboriginal—what to do if parent does not want band involved
• mediation
• access
• mandate to return child to family

Jennifer G. Barrett — Quadra Legal Centre, Victoria
Henriette Chabot — Mental Health Legal Advocate, The Kettle Society, Vancouver
Crystal Phillips — Child Protection Mediator, Vancouver
Jeffrey J. Speed — Speed Law Corporation, Vancouver

Questions & Discussion

Networking Break

Permanent Placements

• differences between s. 41.d and s. 49
  • continuing custody
  • Family Group Decision Making
• contrasting s. 54.01 and s. 54.1: permanent transfer of custody and adoption—what’s the difference?
• adoption
  • entitlement to notice
  • access
  • delegated Aboriginal agencies
  • MCFD vs. private adoption
• post CCO access
• post CCO “best interests of the child”
• public guardian and trustee

Fiona M. Beveridge — Watson Goepel LLP, Vancouver
Robert Evans — RWE Law Corporation, Vancouver
Patricia L. MacDonald — Patricia L. MacDonald Law Corporation, Stewart Feenie, Vancouver
Jennifer A. Rowbotham — Kinsman Law Group, Richmond

Questions & Discussion