A parenting intervention (sometimes called a Practice Note 7 Intervention) is used in a small minority of cases involving separated or divorced parents where the families are not able to agree on parenting issues, have made an application to the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Court asks for help from independent Parenting Experts such as psychologists or social workers.
The judge will make an order that sets out the terms of the intervention, and tells the Expert what issues have been identified.
The Parenting Expert will meet with the families and work with them to resolve the issues. The intervention may include psychological testing, counselling and educational sessions.
Issues that may be addressed in an intervention include:
At the end of an intervention, if the parties have been able to reach an agreement, the Expert will write a report detailing their agreement for the Court. If they are not able to resolve their issues, the Expert will write a letter for the Court explaining what has been done and what progress has been made. The report may make recommendations about a process to follow to resolve any further issues – but it will not make recommendations about how the children are to be parented.
Interventions are paid for by the parties themselves. In most cases, the judge making the initial order will set out how the cost is to be divided between the parties and when payments are to be made.
Subsidies may be available to low income parties through Family Justice Services.
More information about Parenting Interventions is in the Practice Note
This program is available to parties with actions in the Court of Queen’s Bench
For information on subsidies, contact Family Justice Services at:
Calgary 403-297-6981
Edmonton 780-427-8329
Regional 403-340-7187
A parenting assessment (sometimes called a Practice Note 8 Assessment) is used in a small minority of cases involving separated or divorced parents where the families are not able to agree on parenting issues, have made an application to the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Court asks for help from independent Parenting Experts such as psychologists or social workers.
The judge will make an order that sets out the terms of the assessment, and tells the Expert what issues have been identified. The assessment may be intended to give short term recommendations (until a trial) or it may be intended to give long term recommendations.
An assessment is an objective, neutral evaluation carried out by a Parenting Expert. It may also include psychological testing, and may explore individual issues such as the child’s educational needs, an individual’s mental health or anything else the parties identify and the Court orders.
Issues that may be addressed in an assessment include:
At the end of an evaluation, the Expert writes a report for the Court summarizing their findings and their recommendations as to how the parenting plan should be set out in the future.
The report or letter by the Expert will be read by the judge and may be used as a basis for making further orders for the parties.
Parenting Assessments are paid for by the parties themselves. In most cases, the judge making the initial order will set out how the cost is to be divided between the parties and when payments are to be made.
Subsidies may be available to low income parties through Family Justice Services.
More information about Parenting Assessments is in the Practice Note.
This program is available to parties with actions in the Court of Queen’s Bench.
For information on subsidies, contact Family Justice Services at:
Calgary 403-297-6981
Edmonton 780-427-8329
Regional 403-340-7187
Brief Conflict Intervention (BCI) is a service offered to parents who are not able to resolve their parenting issues. The program is available to parents who have a parenting, contact or enforcement of time with a child application in the Provincial Court. The judge will make an order directing the parents to the Brief Conflict Intervention program and setting out the issues to be discussed.
The program allows the parties a maximum of ten hours solution-focused intervention from a specialized clinician, such as a psychologist or social worker, over a six to seven week period.
The clinician will help parents:
At the end of the intervention, the clinician will forward a summary report to Family Justice Services. The summary will outline issues resolved and those that remain in dispute. The summary will not contain recommendations. The summary report will be available to the Court.
There is no cost to the qualifying parties. To qualify:
Brief Conflict Interventions are provided in the following centres: