The Branch initiated a pilot project in 1999 to test mandatory participation in parenting after separation programs (MPAS). Separating parents, and parents who were changing existing orders for child custody, access, guardianship or child support, were required to participate in a parenting after separation program prior to their first court appearance. An evaluation of the program in 2000 indicated positive results. There were fewer court cases and a smoother passage to court in the pilot locations. Expansion of PAS program to different ethnic backgrounds PAS programs were initially only available in English. The eventual development of programs in the first language of different ethnic groups allowed information to be tailored to the needs of a particular community. The South Asian community actively supported the PAS program and participated in its development and delivery. Parenting after separation workshops wete first offered in Punjabi and Hindi, and later in Mandarin and Cantonese, In recognition of these multicultural programs, the Ministry of Attorney General, together with the Law Courts Education Society, was awarded the 1999 Erwin Cantor Award “for innovative programs” by the international Association of Family Conciliation Courts. Family justice services evolve into a separate entity Reorganization of the Branch in April 1997 resulted in the creation of the Family Justice Services Division. Under this specialized organizational structure and the first full-time dedicated family justice manager, 31 family justice centres were established throughout the province.