Child-centred Family Justice Fund - Public Legal Education and Information and Professional Training Component

Objectives

Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

The Department has established the following priorities for the PLEI - Project component of the Child-centred Family Justice Fund:

• to develop PLEI activities promoting parental responsibilities;
• to develop information that meets the needs of unrepresented litigants;
• to develop information that meets the needs of official language minority communities;
• to develop PLEI activities that meet the needs of identified hard-to-reach groups of parents who are separating and divorcing;
• to develop information that meets the needs of young people who may become parents;
• to continue to inform and educate other parents among the general public who are separating and divorcing; and,
• to continue to inform professionals and other intermediaries whose clients include separating and divorcing parents.

Professional Training

The main objective of the Professional Training component of the Child-centred Family Justice Fund is to assist with the implementation of family law reforms related to parenting arrangements, child support and support enforcement measures. Professionals directly involved in family law, with divorcing and separating parents, or with the court system, need information on federal and provincial/territorial family law, child support and court reforms. In order to inform the legal profession, the judiciary, mediators and other professionals and intermediaries, departmental officials have given training sessions and have participated in workshops organized by professional organizations, societies and associations. In addition, the Family, Children and Youth Section has provided funding to these organizations to develop child support materials, workshops and training sessions.

Activities

Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

Examples of PLEI Activities that could be eligible for Funding:

• Information sessions on parental roles and responsibilities
• Research activities
• Development of plain language materials on the family justice system (process, legislation)
• Development of workbooks and/or self-help kits for parents and/or un-represented litigants;
• Training sessions for intermediaries;
• Development of materials on the family justice system, including services available in the minority language community
• Revisions to existing print material for parents (e.g., how to obtain variations, going to court)
• Development of new materials and approaches to educate youth

Professional Training

A main priority for professional training is to support continuing education efforts for professionals and intermediaries on parenting arrangements, child support, and support enforcement measures. Therefore, the following areas will be targeted with respect to professional training and education:

• development of continuing education programs on child-centred family justice issues;
• assisting professionals, intermediaries and service providers to keep up to date on these issues; and,
• continuing to inform new professionals, intermediaries and service providers on child-centred family law reforms.

Who is eligible?

Projects submitted to the Department of Justice Canada for funding consideration must first be supported by their respective provincial or territorial government officials.

Any of the following may apply for funding under the Public Legal Education and Information and Professional Training component of the Fund:

1. individuals;
2. non-profit professional organization, societies or associations;
3. other non-profit organizations, societies or associations;
4. educational institutions;
5. private sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects in partnership with federal, provincial, or territorial governments.

Should you require assistance in identifying or communicating with your provincial/territorial representative, please see the contact information provided at the end of this section.

Points to Consider

Project funding can be, and often is, accessed in conjunction with other program funding. Applications will be reviewed carefully to determine linkages to other initiatives/programs so that funding can be shared when appropriate.

As funds are limited, it is not possible to fund all projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Projects that demonstrate that they can best meet the information needs of the Department will be given priority consideration.

How to Apply

To submit a request for funding, we suggest that you complete the Application/Proposal Form: HTML/ Application/Proposal Form in Adobe PDF Format (106 kb)

An MSWord version of the Application Form is avaibable on request to pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

This form, once completed, contains all the necessary information to allow us to fully assess the merits of the proposal.

We suggest that you refer to the guide entitled "How to Apply for Funding - A Guide to Preparing a Proposal" before completing your application. The guide provides detailed information on all the items that you are required to address in the application form.

Sustainable Development

We encourage you to submit your application electronically.  If you submit your application on paper, please consider printing on both sides of the paper. These actions will minimize environmental impacts.

Send the application form by:

1. mail to:
   Programs Branch
   Department of Justice Canada
   284 Wellington Street, 6th Floor
   Ottawa, Ontario
   K1A 0H8
2. fax at 613 952-9600; or
3. e-mail at pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca

Contact Information

For further information, you can:

1. Phone the Program Development Unit at 613 957-0642
2. Fax us at 613 952-9600
3. Or write to us at:
   Department of Justice Canada
   Program Development Unit
   Family, Children and Youth Section
   284 Wellington Street
   Ottawa , ON K1A 0H8