justice services provided to children and their
parents. Meanwhile, integrated service delivery
was tested in four family justice centres in
Burnaby/New Westminster, Kitimat, Merritt
and Kamloops. Each centre provided different
services to test the suitability of alternative
delivery models. The centres provided
supervised access programs, parenting after
separation programs, enhanced mediation and
an aboriginal program.

An evaluation of the project by a private
research firm indicated that client satisfaction
increased with staff specialization and the
provision of services at one location. The
availability of quality family mediation services
and parent education programs were also highly
valued by parents.

Alternative dispute resolution policy

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was
increasingly viewed as an important method of
resolving family conflict, although it was not
widely available in B.C. during the early 1990s.
At the same time, the roles of youth probation,
adult probation and family justice services were
becoming increasingly complex.

Specialized knowledge and skills were required.
For probation officers to continue to deliver
mediation and conciliation services, they
needed specialized knowledge, regular practice,
supervision and consistent professional
development. To resolve family disputes
effectively through mediation, conciliation and
non court-based alternatives, the family

function needed to be separated from

probation.”

Refocusing the role of family court counsellors
on ADR teceived increasing support within the
Branch. If matters could be settled outside
coutt, thete would be decreased demand for
custody and access reports. A 1994 decision by
the Branch to increase mediation training to 80
houts supported this direction. It also enhanced
the ability of family court counsellors to resolve
family disputes.

Information sessions for parents

In 1988, Williams Lake Probation and Family
Services Office initiated 90-minute Family
Relations Act information sessions for families
who were experiencing separation.” Family
justice counsellors facilitated the sessions and
new clients were required to attend them prior
to an initial interview with a family justice
counsellor. The sessions covered available
relief, the court process, impact of separation,
family violence and divorce matters. An
information package on children’s rights and
joint custody was given to clients.

Parenting after separation education programs
were one of the reform initiatives tested in four
locations as patt of the family justice reform
pilot project (1994). These programs provided
parents with information about dispute
resolution options and services available
through the justice system and in the
community.

60 Malatest & Associates Ltd., Family Justice Reform Pilot Project Evaluation, Ministry of Attorney General, Victoria,

B.C., 1995,
61 Interview with Wendy Hacking, 2001.

62 D. Brown, “Family Relations Act Information Sessions,” CorrTech Quarterly, 1(2), 1992, p. 16.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

221