Its name doesn’t trip off the tongue and its abbreviation is no catchy acronym, but the Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative has been a boon to families in marital breakdown.
Established in 2009 as a five-year, $122-million project by Justice Canada, the Initiative was “intended to strengthen the family justice response to the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce by contributing to the continued improvement of access to family justice and by encouraging greater parental compliance with family obligations, notably support and access.”
Both the federal and provincial components of the SFI are scheduled to end on March 31, which is why the CBA Family Law Section has written to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould in a plea to have it renewed with a permanent mandate.
Among other things, the SFI has prepared and distributed high-quality legal education materials such as Step by Step and Making Plans which practising family lawyers often use to help guide their clients during difficult times.
“The SFI has helped to develop and maintain family justice services such as mediation, parenting education and public legal education and information,” the Section writes. “As family lawyers, we know how critical these services are in helping families through the separation and divorce process.”
According to a 2014 report, the program itself was able to run efficiently – though the report notes that salary and operational and management resources were insufficient to meet demands – but more than that, it reduced costs for the families it was meant to serve.
“Although this is not a direct cost savings to the federal government, it is an indication of the multiplying effect of the federal investment and one of the measurable benefits of supporting these programs and services. The outcomes for parents of (Family Law Assistance Services) activities are also substantial when compared to the amount of federal net expenditures.”
Canadians are more likely to have a family justice issue than any other kind, the Section concludes, and many try to handle it without a lawyer. “The SFI has played an important role in providing clear information and easy-to-use tools for separating families who need that assistance. That role should continue.”