Community Engagement on New Legal Aid Services for Family Violence Survivors
We are releasing today an exciting and very timely community engagement opportunity for Centre for Family Equity members and members of the public. This opportunity is directly related to the settlement of our lawsuit regarding access to legal aid. One that has been a long time coming. The time has arrived!
And we need your input now more than ever.
FOR THIS APRIL ONLY we are holding:
HAVE YOUR SAY...and help build a new legal aid clinic model for BC that works for those impacted by family violence that is inclusive, safe, holistic and trauma-informed. Check your eligibility to participate and sign up right away here.
Legal Aid BC (LABC) provides legal representation and advice services on family law issues, including family violence and other matters important to families. The legal aid clinic model will be available for those in BC experiencing complex family law issues, specifically those experiencing family violence, by the end of 2024. To get the best possible outcomes for those referred to the clinic model, and any dependent children, LABC is collaborating with the Centre for Family Equity to learn from people who have experienced family violence.
Many of you, hundreds, joined this organization due to your experience of lack of access to BC's family law system, legal aid, and our legal action to address the issue. Through thick and thin we stuck out a seven-year lawsuit and reached a collaborative agreement with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Aid BC, in February 2024.
The outcome? Nothing short of $29 million in funding to expand family legal aid services and create a holistic clinic model for those impacted by family violence in BC, to start. We know many can't afford to wait any longer; the clinic model will launch in late 2024.
But now the most important work begins.
Our Settlement Agreement confirms our unique opportunity to impact the new service delivery model development through a consultation process which we must carry out in the next four weeks. That is fast...
We got this!
Are you...an adult with lived experience of family violence, challenges accessing family law services, low-income, and a resident anywhere in BC?
We are seeking up to 70 participants with lived experience of challenges accessing family law in BC who fit the eligibility criteria to choose one form of participation between April 4th and April 30th:
- Sign up for an evening online focus group for Metro Vancouver, Northern BC, Interior, and regions around BC. $75 honoraria per participant.
- Opt for a confidential one-on-one online engagement booked at a time that works for you with CFE engagement staff. $100 honoraria per participant.
- Get a link to our anonymous survey if you prefer to submit your input confidentially in writing. $50 honoraria per survey respondent.
- Impact the creation of trauma-informed services, clinic model locations, priority populations and a holistic, client-centred approach! We need to hear from you.
Access the sign-up form here.
We believe YOU know best how to remove stigma and address access barriers to create services that ensure a client is safe, heard, and protected.
Book your spot now - spaces are limited and the engagement will end on April 30th, 2024.
Thank you. To get in touch with Centre for Family Equity staff about the engagement please email [email protected].