View Family Relations Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96128_01
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
B.C. extends legal rights for same-sex couples: Changes to the Family Relations Act make B.C. the first province in Canada to legally recognize spousal and child support for gay and lesbian couples.
By Petti Fong, The Vancouver Sun, February 5, 1998
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/docview/242896210?accountid=14846
B.C. became the first province in Canada to legally recognize spousal and child support for same-sex couples, giving them more legal rights here than anywhere else in the country.
Man accused in death of young girl granted bail
CBC News Posted: Aug 24, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2012/08/24/sk-bail-kevin-goforth.html
In this situation a child was placed in custody of a guardian due to unfit parenting. While in custody of this guardian the child suffered abuse and neglect and ultimately died. The child was initially removed from its home as a safety measure. So even though this act is supposed to care for the well-being of children, in this case the child was harmed as a result of removing it from its home. While this is not so much a criticism of the act, it is a criticism related to the administration of the act.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To legislate guardianship and custody issues.
- The Act outlines who has custody over a child, how one can gain custody of a child, who should have custody of a child, and who is obligated to financially support the child.
- It provides solutions and information in the event that it is unclear who the legal guardian of a child is.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- The power to decide where and with who a child resides. The court may appoint power to a number of individuals in situations pertaining to guardianship and custody issues.
- The court has the power to appoint a legal guardian and to decide who is allowed to reside in the home of the child.
- In cases involving marriage breakdown, the court and its agents have power to decide what fair and equal division of property is.
How does this act benefit society?
- It provides practical information about who is responsible for caring and ensuring the safety of a child.
- It is intended to provide solutions to issues that may arise in situations where families cannot come to agreements on their own (death, mental health, dysfuction).
- The Act benefits society in that it gives clear answers when families are in compromised situations and may not be able to make decisions without assistance.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- Island Family Counselling Centre: http://www.islandfamilycounselling.com/links.html
- Victoria Women’s Transition House Society: http://www.transitionhouse.net/
- BC Association of Social Workers: http://www.bcasw.org/
- BC Families in Transition: http://bcfit.org/
- Pacific Centre Family Services Association: http://www.pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- The struggle between keeping families together versus the safety of the child.
- In instances when parents are in conflict over custody of a child, the conflict may be traumatizing for the child.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- By providing information when necessary and ensuring that the client is aware of and has access to the necessary resources.
- This particular Act deals with sensitive matters involving families therefore I would encourage the client to seek counseling if necessary.
- In cases dealing with custody where a parent or guardian needs to demonstrate capabilities and competency as a caregiver I would offer support to the individual as well as advocating for the individual if I felt it was appropriate.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia: http://www.trustee.bc.ca/services/adult/index.html
- Legal Services Society Family Law in British Columbia: http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/help/who_JusticeCounsellors.php
- Families in Transition: http://www.bcfit.org/about.shtml
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
B.C. extends legal rights for same-sex couples: Changes to the Family Relations Act make B.C. the first province in Canada to legally recognize spousal and child support for gay and lesbian couples.
By Petti Fong, The Vancouver Sun, February 5, 1998
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/docview/242896210?accountid=14846
B.C. became the first province in Canada to legally recognize spousal and child support for same-sex couples, giving them more legal rights here than anywhere else in the country.
Man accused in death of young girl granted bail
CBC News Posted: Aug 24, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2012/08/24/sk-bail-kevin-goforth.html
In this situation a child was placed in custody of a guardian due to unfit parenting. While in custody of this guardian the child suffered abuse and neglect and ultimately died. The child was initially removed from its home as a safety measure. So even though this act is supposed to care for the well-being of children, in this case the child was harmed as a result of removing it from its home. While this is not so much a criticism of the act, it is a criticism related to the administration of the act.