MODULE 6 Best Practice Approaches Effective Ways to Protect Children

1. MODULE 6Best Practice Approaches Effective Ways to Protect Children

2. Module 6 Learning Objectives • Participants will: • Become familiar with Best Practice Approaches 7 & 8. • Apply Best Practice Approaches 7 & 8 to case studies. • Become familiar with the continuum of options for effective ways to protect children and youth.

3. Module 6 Learning Objectives • Participants will: • Understand the need for interagency collaboration in developing safety service plans for women, their children and abuser. • Understand risks and develop strategies to reduce risks for women who are required to attend family court hearings

4. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children • Effective ways and services to protect the child should be made with the goal of developing family and community capacity to care safely for child(ren) and youth as primary consideration.

5. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children • Wherever possible, ensure that the mother, her support person (if the mother wishes) and others involved with the child are involved in discussing options to assist the mother with creating safety for herself and her children.

6. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children Options include: • Support services that will keep the mother safe • Have the children reside with their mother • Obtain a protective intervention order CFCSA section 28 • Obtain an order of supervision CFCSA section 29.1(1)(a)(b) • Friend or family member to care for children • Children reside with a care provider selected by their mother • Voluntary care agreement • Removing the child(ren) through a court order

7. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children • Court orders require that the abusive partner will be served and appear in court and may not be a safe intervention for the mother.

8. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children If the goal is to have the mother separate from her violent partner, safe guards must include: • A place to stay unknown to abuser • A protective order • Involved professionals aware of risks • Police aware • Safety plan including 24 hour contact numbers

9. Best Practice Approach 7 Effective Ways to Protect Children Other crisis and long-term strategies may include: • Bail conditions on the violent partner relating to the safety of the children and mother. • Sentencing conditions relating to the safety of the children and mother. • Civil restraining order under the Family Relations Act.

10. Best Practice Approach 8 Preparing for MCFD Court Hearings If a child protection decision involves a court appearance: • Explain the court process to the mother • Ensure that the mother’s and child’s address is not on any court documents or in testimony

11. Best Practice Approach 8 Preparing for MCFD Court Hearings • Separate safety service plans for mother and abusive partner for judge • Abusive partner’s service plan - services address his responsibility for the violence • If mother is a witness, refer to community based victim assistance/ women’s advocate programs

12. Best Practice Approach 8 Preparing for MCFD Court Hearings • Ensure that the mother is safely escorted in and out of court • Court security are informed of the safety requirements • Advise the court of the need for interpretive services