Supporting Families Fund - Public Legal Education and Information and Professional Training Component

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Objectives

Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

The Department has established the following priorities for the PLEI - Project component of the Supporting Families Fund:

• to develop PLEI activities and information resources that aim to promote compliance with financial support and custody and access obligations;
• to develop information resources that meet the needs of separating and divorcing families;
• to develop information resources that meet the needs of official language minority communities;
• to develop PLEI activities and resources that meet the needs of identified hard-to-reach groups of parents who are separating and divorcing; and
• to continue to inform professionals and other intermediaries whose clients include separating and divorcing parents.

Professional Training

The main objective of the Professional Training component of the Supporting Families Fund is to assist with the implementation of family law reforms related to parenting arrangements (custody and access), family support and support enforcement measures. Professionals directly involved in family law, with divorcing and separating parents, or with the court system, need information on federal and provincial and territorial family law, family support, custody and access and court reforms.

Activities

Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

Examples of PLEI Activities that could be eligible for Funding:

• Information sessions on parental roles and responsibilities;
• PLEI Research activities;    
• Developing plain language materials on the family justice system (process, legislation);
• Developing materials on the family justice system, including services available in the minority language community;
• Revising existing print material for parents (e.g., how to obtain variations, going to court, custody and access obligations);
• Developing information resources that meet the needs of high conflict separating or divorcing families including situations of domestic violence; and

• Developing new materials and approaches to educate youth.

Professional Training

A main priority for professional training is to support continuing education efforts for professionals and intermediaries on parenting arrangements, child support, and support enforcement measures. Therefore, the following areas will be targeted with respect to professional training and education:

• Development of continuing education programs on family justice issues, particularly those focusing on financial support and custody/access obligations;
• Training for professionals, intermediaries and service providers to keep up to date on these issues;
• Training for professionals, intermediaries and service providers that help meet the needs of hard to reach and minority language communities;   
• Continuing to inform new professionals, intermediaries and service providers on family law reforms and issues; and
• Development or assessment of tools for professionals to help them help families through separation and divorce.

Who is eligible?

Projects submitted to the Department of Justice Canada for funding consideration must first be supported by their respective provincial or territorial government officials.

Any of the following may apply for funding under the Public Legal Education and Information and Professional Training component of the Fund:

1. individuals;
2. non-profit professional organizations, societies or associations;
3. other non-profit organizations, societies or associations;
4. educational institutions;
5. private sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects in partnership with federal, provincial, or territorial governments.

Points to Consider

Project funding can be, and often is, accessed in conjunction with other program funding. Applications will be reviewed carefully to determine linkages to other initiatives or programs so that funding can be shared when appropriate.

As funds are limited, it is not possible to fund all projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Projects that demonstrate that they can best meet the information needs of the Department will be given priority consideration.

How to Apply

To submit a request for funding, we suggest that you complete the Application/Proposal Form: HTML / PDF Format (106 kb, PDF Help) / Word Format (118 kb).

Once completed, the form contains all the necessary information to allow the Program Development Unit to fully assess the merits of the proposal.

The Department's Programs Branch has developed a Funding Guide that helps applicants prepare applications for funding. The guide provides eligibility criteria, information about the application process, an application form and a glossary of terms.

Official Languages

In support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act the Department is committed to facilitate the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of the Department's policies, programs and services having significant impact on the development of the communities; and to take measures to ensure that the Department of Justice's programs and services reach official language minority communities. In the context of project funding, these measures include:

• Outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of the Department of Justice funding programs
• Encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for Department of Justice Canada funding.

Sustainable Development

The Department of Justice encourages applicants to submit proposals electronically.  If you submit your application on paper, please consider printing on both sides of the paper. These actions will minimize environmental impacts.

Send the application form by e-mail to pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

Contact Information

For further information, you can:

1. Phone the Program Development Unit at 613 957-0642
2.  Fax the Program Development Unit at 613 952-9600
3. Or write to us at:
   Department of Justice Canada
   Program Development Unit
   Family, Children and Youth Section
   284 Wellington Street
   Ottawa , ON K1A 0H8