Our Services
Our team of registered social workers offer a wide range of support, resources and education in the areas of high-conflict separation, co-parent conflict, parent and step-parent coaching, parenting coordination, child welfare (CFS) advocacy and therapy. Additionally, we offer Brief Focused Custody and Safety Assessments to help families avoid the stress and financial burden of having to go to court to resolve parenting matters.
Child Welfare Advocacy
When families become involved with Child and Family Services (CFS) in Alberta, it can be an overwhelming experience filled with questions, decisions, and emotions. Advocacy plays a vital role in this process, ensuring that the voices of children, parents, and caregivers are heard and respected.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is the act of supporting or arguing in favor of a cause or individual. When it comes to CFS, advocacy means standing up for the rights and best interests of the children and families involved. It means ensuring that everyone has access to the resources, information, and fair treatment they need to navigate the system effectively.
Please see our FAQ section for more information.
Parenting Coordination
Believe it or not, you don’t have to be enemies with your co-parent! Parenting Coordination is a voluntary mediation/arbitration intervention intended to create a collaborative, solutions-focused co-parenting relationship.
This process is meant for co-parents who wish to improve their relationship in the best interests of their children, learning to leave the resentment, anger and tension behind all the while avoiding court and the ongoing emotional and financial stress of legal bills.
Contrary to popular belief, Parenting Coordination does not have to be court ordered and is accessible to any co-parents looking for support in running the business of raising children together.
Parent Coaching
We offer three different types of Coaching services, including Parent, Co-Parent and Step-Parent. Meet regularly with a registered social worker to gain support and clarity in the issues impacting your everyday.
Parent Coaching is for parents needing support in raising their children. Sessions can include intact parents, or one parent.
Co-Parent Coaching is for parents involved in conflict with their co-parent, when both parties are uninterested in Parenting Coordination.
Step-parent Coaching is for step-parents who are seeking support in navigating their tough role. Sessions are for the step-parent, but may include the parent at the step-parent’s request.
Brief Focused Assessments
The most popular assessment for separated families is called a Brief Focused Custody Assessment (BFCA) which is a much less expensive and efficient process compared to that of a court-ordered Practice Note intervention.
BFCA can be requested by consent of both parents involved in a parenting matter. During a BCFA, a neutral registered social worker will interview both parents, the children, extended family members as well as the children’s therapist, school and any third-party professionals involved, then provide recommendations to counsel for the parents to assist in determining the outcome.
Litigation Support
When families are involved with Child and Family Services (CFS) and/or the family legal system, it is an undoubtedly stressful time. Sometimes, when a client has legal counsel, we are hired as Litigation Support to assist with legal proceedings as a third-party expert. Our social workers meet with legal counsel and clients to support the needs of the children involved and ensure the child’s best interests are prioritized.
Therapy
We offer individual therapy, family therapy and reunification therapy.
Individual therapy is for people who wish to have a safe place to work through their therapeutic goals.
Family therapy can be for any two members of a family who wish to work through some therapeutic goals to improve family functioning.
Reunification therapy is typically, but not always, a court-ordered intervention for a child and a estranged family member. The purpose of this intervention is to reunite the child with a family member they may or may not have a previous relationship with, most often this is a parent. This process is child-led, which means reunification will only happen when determined appropriate by the therapist in their sole discretion.
