Child Protection ADR

According to the Child & Family Services Act of Ontario, Children's Aid Societies must consider Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) when appropriate for child protection cases. ADR can address any issue related to a child who is or may be in need of protection, or a plan for the child's care. This pamphlet written for ADR practitioners explains the role of ADR-LINK in processing referrals from children's aid societies and maintaining a roster of ADR practitioners able to take cases in the South West Region of Ontario. The responsibilities of ADR professionals are outlined, from screening each case for suitability for ADR to submiting an itemized bill to ADR-LINK.

Audience: ADR Professionals in the South West Region of Ontario.

Child Protection Mediation

This pamphlet helps potential participants understand mediation as used for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the child protection context. It explains the basic process of mediation including the role of lawyers. You will also learn about the protections in place to safeguard the rights of families who use mediation to resolve disputes with a children's aid society.

Audience: Families contemplating using mediation and child protection workers contemplating a referral to ADR-LINK for mediation.

Family Group Conferencing

This pamphlet helps potential participants understand family group conferencing as used for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the child protection context. Readers will learn about the stages in the FGC and the protections put into place to safeguard the rights of families who use ADR to resolve disputes with a children's aid society.

Audience: Families contemplating using FGC as ADR and child protection workers contemplating a referral to ADR-LINK for FGC.

First Nations ADR/ODR

Original Dispute Resolution is ADR that draws on traditional ways of decision making, problem solving and resolving disagreements. The term reflects the fact that dispute resolution has been used for generations. Today, knowledge of those traditional methods is found with the Elders and other sources of traditional knowledge. Respectfully accessing their wisdom and guidance, a First Nation community can develop ODR methods grounded in local traditional practices and in harmony with community needs and priorities. This pamphlet explains the role of ADR-LINK in facilitating this process in the South West Region of Ontario.

Audience: First Nations communities contemplating the development of Original Dispute Resolution methods.

Accessing ADR-LINK