After She Leaves: Manual & training details
We were delighted to launch our new online training and resource manual for those who support women involved in the family court system.
Both the online training and resource manual cover changes to the Divorce Act and Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act (CLRA), as well as the evolving situation in the family courts and related services.
Access both the course and the manual for $90, or the manual alone for $40. Group rates for organizations are available. Email us for more information.
Training
After She Leaves: Family law training for women’s advocates is multi-module self-directed e-learning that looks at the legal issues and challenges a woman may encounter after she leaves an abusive relationship and becomes involved in the family court system. Learn more about the After She Leaves online training.
“It is an extremely relevant course for the work I do. Any women’s advocate could benefit from it.” – participant
This multi-module course is designed for Ontario service providers who support survivors. While it is particularly helpful to those new to the work, since it covers recent changes to the laws for parenting arrangements and strategies for supporting women virtually, it is also a valuable refresher for the experienced.
What is covered
Violence against women by intimate partners
- Dynamics of abuse
- Issues for specific communities
- Impact on women and their children
- Post-separation abuse, including legal bullying
Family law issues
- Parenting arrangements, including legal and illegal relocation of children
- Financial issues: Child and spousal support, property division
- Other legal issues: Relationships, child protection, criminal and immigration issues
- Legal options for safety
Family court
- Women’s experiences in family court
- Steps in the family law process
- Types of orders
- Evidence
- Remote hearings and at the courthouse
Getting legal advice
- Finding, working with, and changing lawyers
- Alternative ways to work with lawyers
- Free legal advice: Luke’s Place Virtual Legal Clinic and Legal Aid Ontario
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
Providing support
- Confidentiality
- Intersectionality
- Risk assessment and safety planning for different situations
- Supporting women to collect evidence
- Supporting women before, during and after court/mediation
- Managing the work
Manual
After She Leaves: A resource manual for women’s advocates delivers extensive information on the challenges women face as they leave abuse and navigate the family court process. It is available to organizations that serve women who have been subjected to abuse in their relationship. Learn more about the After She Leaves manual.
A service provider’s job may involve frequent and regular contact with survivors of family violence who are dealing with family law, or they may only encounter such clients occasionally. Whichever it is, the better-informed workers are about the basics of family law and how family court operates in Ontario, the better they can assist clients, as well as make appropriate referrals for them.
“EXCELLENT new training tool. I think MANY can benefit from this. Super informative and helpful.” – participant
Topics covered
- The dynamics of abuse
- Intimate partner abuse in various communities
- Safety for women and children
- Impact on women as family court litigants
- Legal bullying
- The family court process
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Service connected to family court
- Family law issues: post-separation parenting arrangements, financial issues, child protection, options for safety
- Intersecting legal issues: criminal court and immigration laws
- Presenting evidence of abuse
- Getting legal advice
- Strategies for women’s advocates
