The Access Toolkit
A parent’s counsel’s guide to advocating for meaningful access arrangements in child and family services proceedings.
About the toolkit
The Access Toolkit is a parent’s counsel’s guide to advocacy on issues of access.
After a child has been removed from their home under the Child, Family, and Community Service Act (CFCSA), access orders and agreements are critical to protecting the child’s relationships and community and cultural connections. However, parent’s counsel confront legal, cultural, and practical barriers when seeking meaningful access arrangements on behalf of their clients.
The Access Toolkit seeks to provide parent’s counsel with advocacy tools to dismantle these barriers.
What’s inside the toolkit?
- In-depth explanations of relevant legislation and case law
- A combination of negotiation and litigation strategies
- Practice tips
- An introduction to trauma-informed lawyering
- Template materials to assist in advocacy efforts
Download the Access Toolkit (.pdf, 1 MB)
Download the Template Court Applications (.zip, 2MB)
Please note: The parens patriae application template referenced in the toolkit will be uploaded at a later date.
Emotional and legal support
West Coast LEAF is not a legal clinic. We do not offer legal advice, direct services, advocacy, or representation for individuals. For support services in BC, please see our Need Help page.
Contact the project team
For inquiries about the Access Toolkit, please contact us at community@westcoastleaf.org.
Acknowledgements
West Coast LEAF is grateful to the Law Foundation of BC for its funding of the toolkit.
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