The Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative

The Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative (SFI) is a new, five-year family law strategy that began on April 1, 2009.

Divorce and separation are usually stressful and can be very costly – in both human and financial terms. The Government of Canada has funded the SFI to help reduce the stress on families when parents separate or divorce. Parents in these circumstances often carry a heavy burden of negative emotion and financial worry. All too often, these emotions interfere with their ability to make good decisions on behalf of their children. The "best interests of the child" – the core principle used to determine parenting arrangements in Canada – can be obscured or even lost when conflict between parents leads them into destructive battles about child support, parenting arrangements, residential arrangements and sometimes spousal support.

Court litigation, for example, often raises levels of conflict and many parents need help and support to sort out the difficult issues they face as they move forward to care for their children in the best possible way. Through the Supporting Families Fund, the Government of Canada will devote $122 million dollars between 2009 and 2014 to funding family justice services run by provinces and territories. Services like mediation, parent information sessions and support recalculation services (available in some provinces) will all help parents come to lasting but flexible agreements that are in the best interests of their children – all without going to court. The Government will also continue to provide funding for provincial and territorial efforts to enforce family orders and agreements.

The Supporting Families Initiative is centred on helping and encouraging parents to:

• consider the needs of their children first;
• use services and public legal information tools, in addition to the legal advice of lawyers specializing in family law;
• come to agreements that work for their unique family situation; and
• comply with those agreements so they can fulfill their responsibilities to their children.

Parents want what is best for their children during and after separation and divorce and strive to meet their needs. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting their efforts.