2026-2027 Services delivered: Family Court Support Worker (FCSW)

Component: Victim Services

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service description

The Province provides funding to the Recipient to deliver the Family Court Support Worker (FCSW) Program. This community-based program provides supports to victims/survivors of domestic violence involved in the family court process. Funding for the Family Court Support Worker Program covers salary, benefits and related costs for Family Court Support Workers.

The Recipient will deliver the FCSW Program in a victim/survivor-centred and culturally-responsive manner.

People served

The Family Court Support Worker Program is partially funded through the Victims' Justice Fund. All services funded through this source will be directed exclusively to benefit victims/survivors of crime.

The Family Court Support Worker Program is intended for victims/survivors of domestic violence who are involved in the family court process. This includes victims/survivors who are about to start a family court proceeding.

Recipients will serve victims/survivors of domestic violence of all genders, either through direct service delivery or referrals to services that meet their specific needs.

Program/service features

The Recipient will provide direct services and support to victims/survivors of domestic violence involved in the family court process. Services will facilitate the victim's/survivor's understanding of, and passage through, the family court system.

Important Note: Family Court Support Workers will not provide legal advice, opinion or direction to the victims/survivors they support.

The Recipient is responsible for the delivery of Family Court Support Worker Program services/activities to victims/survivors living in the catchment area. All victims/survivors of domestic violence must be able to access Family Court Support Worker Program services within their catchment area. Where the mandate of a Family Court Support Worker Program service provider limits victim/survivor access to services at their organization (e.g. for male victims/survivors of domestic violence), the service provider must have a process in place to ensure that the victim/survivor of domestic violence is able to receive equivalent services in their catchment area. For example, the Recipient could coordinate with another Family Court Support Worker Program service provider in an adjoining catchment area to ensure services can be provided in the victim’s/survivor's jurisdiction of choice. Victims/survivors of domestic violence will not incur any costs to access these alternative services.

The Recipient will work collaboratively with other services for victims/survivors of domestic violence, including the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP), to ensure victims/survivors have access to the supports they need at every stage of the court process.

The Recipient will encourage and support Family Court Support Workers to participate in training opportunities available through the Family Court Support Worker Program Training Initiative, including use of the online portal.

Specific service provided

Family Court Support Workers will

• Conduct a needs assessment for victims/survivors
• Provide information about the family court process
• Assist the victim/survivor to record the history of abuse to prepare for family court proceedings
• Provide the victim/survivor with safety planning, including safety planning related to court attendance, and referrals for risk assessments where appropriate
• Assist the victim/survivor with the legal aid process
• Support the victim/survivor to follow through on requests received from lawyers
• Debrief with victims/survivors following family court appearances, lawyer appointments, Family Law Information Centre meetings, and consultations with duty counsel
• Refer the victim/survivor to specialized services (both domestic violence-specific and culturally responsive services) in the community
• Communicate with criminal court-based services, such as the V/WAP, where appropriate, and in accordance with the appropriate protocol
• Communicate with other family court-based services and referral sources to ensure seamless delivery of appropriate information and support
• At the victim’s/survivor’s request, accompany the victim/survivor to a family court proceeding, where appropriate, and resources permit

Program goals

The goals of the Family Court Support Worker Program are to

• Provide supports for victims/survivors of domestic violence involved in the family court process, and address victim/survivor safety through safety planning
• Increase the victim's/survivor's awareness of available services and supports
• Build the core competencies of service providers to support victims/survivors of domestic violence who are involved in the family court system

Ministry expectations

The Recipient will provide all individuals who have accessed their services an opportunity to complete the Ministry’s Service Experience Survey for victims/survivors and people at risk of violence.

The Recipient will participate in other processes identified by the Province to measure the effectiveness of the Family Court Support Worker Program, including Family Court Support Worker Program service delivery and compliance with the Agreement.

Reporting requirements

Service data on ministry funded expenditures will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Report back due dates and targets are in the Recipients agreement with the ministry.

Service data will be reported through the Transfer Payment Ontario and supplemental reports to the ministry.