2026-2027 Services delivered: Family Court Support Worker – Training Initiative

Component: Victim Services

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service description

The Province provides funding to the Recipient to continue to enhance the Training Initiative for workers funded by the Family Court Support Worker (FCSW) Program. See the FCSW Program Service Objectives for more information. This training initiative involves

• Training, both in person and through an online web portal, to support delivery of consistent, specialized services across the province for victims/survivors of domestic violence who are involved in the family court process
• Maintaining a moderated online discussion forum and resource repository, where Family Court Support Workers can be kept up to date on issues relevant to their role, and share lessons learned and best practices

People served

The training is provided to Family Court Support Workers.

Program/service features

The Recipient is responsible for the delivery of Program services/activities to Family Court Support Workers across the province.

The Recipient will consult with the Province on key deliverables, including:

• Review and enhance core competencies for Family Court Support Workers
  • These should be reflected in all training materials developed to improve skills and knowledge of core competencies
• Training and related materials will:
  • Be clear on the distinction between the provision of legal information, which is within scope of the FCSW Program, and legal advice, which is not within scope
  • Account for and align with existing FCSW Program Standards or any that may be developed by the Province for implementation during the contract period
  • Address opportunities to increase service delivery capacity to diverse populations
  • Address the needs of new Family Court Support Workers through the development and provision of an online training program
• In person training:
  • During each Funding Year, training for Family Court Support Workers will include one conference, of two days in length, and will also include an additional one-day conference for new Family Court Support Workers entering the FCSW Program. The Recipient will work in collaboration with the Province to develop the learning components of any in-person training or conference for Family Court Support Workers, which should focus on increasing the knowledge and capacity of Family Court Support Workers to deliver funded services. The Recipient will obtain prior approval of the Province for the final curriculum of any in person training or conference.
  • In addition, this training should:
    • Incorporate topics related to the family justice system, family law and domestic violence, and the role of the V/WAP
    • Incorporate components relating to the unique needs of victims/survivors who are Francophone, Indigenous, individuals with disabilities and from other diverse populations
    • Address the specific needs of those who identify as male victims/survivors of domestic violence and those with non-binary gender identity who are victims/survivors of domestic violence, in addition to the addressing the specific needs of those who identify as women who are victims/survivors of domestic violence
    • Be delivered in a manner consistent with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its regulations, including the establishment of policies, practices and procedures that promote accessibility for persons with disabilities to access the services offered
    • Be delivered in a manner consistent with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the French Language Services Act, and Ontario’s Human Rights Code
• Online Portal
  • Provide access and online resources for Family Court Support Workers funded to deliver the FCSW Program, including the additional non-Family Court Support Workers previously trained
  • Maintain an online moderated discussion forum for Family Court Support Workers as a means of disseminating pertinent information, including updates on relevant changes in family law and family and criminal courts, and responding to concerns or challenges workers are encountering in the course of carrying out their duties
    • The online discussion forum will be moderated by a family law lawyer. Moderation will be provided on a regular basis (6 days a month) to ensure that timely responses are made to online inquiries
  • Maintain an online directory with the up-to-date contact information for each of the Family Court Support Workers in the province
    • The Directory should include a current list of workers who can provide services in French in designated areas under the French Language Services Act and who can also facilitate the coordination of French language services in non-designated areas
  • Develop, enhance and maintain online resource and training materials, including an up-to-date Resource Manual, and best practices to support Family Court Support Workers in their assignments
    • Develop an enhanced orientation process and package to support new forum users
    • Provide support regarding user skill development and technical issues related to the forum for forum users
    • Conduct research and evaluate forum use dynamics
    • All in-person training materials will be available on the online portal within 30 days of the training (conference)
    • Links to services for victims/survivors of domestic violence, including French, Indigenous, those who identify as male, those with non- binary gender identity as well as those who identify as women will be available on the portal
  • The Province will be granted 14 days' access to the moderated forum after each reporting period as well as when requested by the Province

Program goals

The goals of the Family Court Support Worker Training Initiative are to enhance the knowledge and competency of Family Court Support Workers to support the delivery of consistent, specialized services across the province for victims/survivors of domestic violence who are involved in the family court process.

Ministry expectations

• Providing Access to the FCSW Program French Language Services (FLS) Initiative
  • The FCSW Program FLS Initiative will be provided access to the Training Initiative Program portal and electronic discussion forum, so that the coordinator of the FLS initiative can scan the English language portal and/or forum to identify relevant questions, discussions, issues or information for users of the FLS forum
  • The list of Family Court Support Workers who can provide services in French in designated areas will be provided to the FCSW Program’s FLS Initiative
• Evaluation
  • The Recipient will administer an evaluation of the following components to Family Court Support Workers
    • In-person training (conference)
    • Online forum and/or portal and virtual training

Evaluations of the online forum and/or portal and virtual training will be completed by the last day of June of each Funding Year and the evaluation of the in-person training will be completed within 3 months of the dates of the in-person trainings/conferences.

The results will be evaluated by the Province on a regular basis to assess performance and effectiveness in addressing the training and online portal (including discussion forum) and also include an assessment of the ongoing educational needs of Family Court Support Workers.

Evaluation should include the following:

• Family Court Support Workers satisfaction with the quality of in person or virtual training, website, online resources, and moderated forum, as shown through feedback surveys or other tools, which will be developed in consultation with the Province and will address
  • Quality and relevance of the training and the curriculum, as demonstrated by
    • How well the curriculum addresses Program requirements as outlined in this document and identified in consultation with the Province
    • Delivery of training
    • The extent to which Family Court Support Workers acquire, maintain and improve knowledge and skills as a result of the training
• Quality of website and online resources provided for ongoing access by Family Court Support Workers, as demonstrated by
  • Quality, relevance, and currency of information, training materials, and best practices available online
  • Ongoing maintenance of online directory with up-to-date contact information

Successful maintenance and enhancement of a collaborative learning environment for Family Court Support Workers, as demonstrated through participation in the moderated online discussions and forums.

Accessibility of online resources to Family Court Support Workers, as demonstrated by portal traffic and outreach activities.

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.