Justice
Health and Community Services
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
June 12, 2007

Family Justice Services Celebrates Expansion

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Justice, today announced the official openings of four expanded sites for the Family Justice Services Division in Newfoundland and Labrador. The mandate of these sites is to deliver comprehensive family law services outside of the traditional court setting with support to children and families dealing with family law issues through a multi-disciplinary team approach.

�It has been the goal of this government to bring these services to everyone who needs them and provide individuals and families with the support they need in all regions,� said Minister Osborne.  �We saw the additions of these resources as a priority and, as a result of Budget 2007, we are providing greater access to areas like mediation and counseling for our society�s most vulnerable.�

In all family law matters, services are now provided to individuals who make an application to court or alternatively, request services in custody, access, child support and spousal support matters.  This provincially-delivered program provides mandatory parent education programs when a court application is filed, as well as dispute resolution and counseling when necessary.

On March 1, 2007, the Family Justice Services Division, a division of both the Supreme and Provincial Courts, began the provision of these services in four regions � the Avalon Peninsula, Central Newfoundland, Western Newfoundland and Labrador.  Throughout the process, provincial and regional committees were established to assist in the coordination and implementation of this multi-departmental and multi-disciplinary family justice services model.  The model utilizes resources not only from the Department of Justice, but also from the departments of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, and Health and Community Services.

�Our government is committed to improving access to health and community services for individuals and families,� said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services.  �Not only will Family Justice Services provide additional clients with direct access to services in custody, access and child support matters, these services will also soon be available to clients in Child, Youth and Family Services.�

The Family Justice Services Division has amalgamated the prior pilot programs provided by Family Justice Services Western and Family Justice Services Central, the Support Applications Social Worker Program, as well as mediation and counseling services previously available at the Unified Family Court in St. John�s.

The funding for the project is provided by the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

�I am pleased with the partnership achieved to create a single point of entry and access to family law services,� said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. �The new approach provides parents with access to education programs, dispute resolution and counseling services outside the traditional court setting; this is a positive step forward for children and families in our province.�

�We have more positive improvements to make,� said Minister Osborne.  �We have plans for additional changes to the delivery of family law services, including expansion of the alternative dispute resolution approaches for Child Youth and Family Services to enhance the family justice services model.  We have also been focused on the expansion of the automatic recalculation of the child support program which had previously existed in Western Newfoundland, and now has become operational province-wide since April 1, 2007.  These are all positive changes which impact people�s lives substantially.�

Official opening ceremonies:

Date

Time

Location

June 12

12:00 p.m.

Gander: Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Boardroom, Gander Airport

June 13

12:00 p.m.

Corner Brook: Blomidon Place, 20 Brook Street

June 15

12:00 p.m.

St. John�s: Templeton Building, Water Street

June 18

12:00 p.m.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay: Northern Cross Church

-30-

Media contacts:
 

Melony O�Neill
Communications
Executive Council
709-729-0557
MOneill@gov.nl.ca

Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
 

 

Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-4062, 728-9623
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca 

 

2007 06 12                                                        11:00 a.m.

 

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