Family Violence Court Liaison Program

Overview

The Family Violence Court Liaison Program is a free service available in Edmonton and Calgary that provides support to those who have experienced family violence and are involved in multiple court matters. Liaisons help by:

• improving coordination and information sharing across courts
• expanding supports by offering extensive safety planning, navigation and connections to community supports
• working with justice and community partners to reduce barriers and improve the court experience

The program was developed as part of Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End gender-Based Violence, drawing on research conducted as part of Canada’s National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, you must:

• have experienced family violence
• be involved in more than one court matter, which can include family, criminal, child and family services, or protection order proceedings

Referrals

Referrals to the Family Violence Court Liaison program are made by internal Government of Alberta or community partners, such as family court counselors, duty counsel, lawyers, victim services, Legal Aid Alberta, shelters, or any community service agency, such as HomeFront, EnCompass, The Today Centre.

Self-referrals for the program are currently not being accepted.

If you need assistance for family law matters, you can find further information on Family court assistance. 

If you have experienced family violence and need support, call 310-1818 toll-free, 24 hours a day or find further supports at Family violence.

Program process

Once a referral is received, a liaison will reach out within 2 business days to begin the triage and intake process.

Step 1. Triage

Upon initial contact, the liaison will:

• confirm program eligibility
• assess the client’s current safety and develop or update a safety plan if needed
• identify immediate needs and offer appropriate resources
• determine next steps, including scheduling an intake appoint

Step 2. Intake

The intake appointment may be conducted in person or by phone, depending on preference and safety considerations.

During intake, the liaison will:

• complete a comprehensive safety screening to assess immediate and ongoing safety concerns and develop a short- and long-term safety plan
• gather background information regarding experience with family violence and involvement with court matters
• complete a Court Summary Form documenting past, current, and upcoming court proceedings
• help with getting relevant court documents and provide information about court processes
• offer referrals to community supports, including shelters, counselling services, and legal clinics

Step 3. Ongoing case management

Following the intake, the liaison will provide case management support, which may include:

• coordinating with court security to ensure safety during court appearance
• providing pre- and post-court debriefings and assisting with follow-up tasks such as registering for parenting programs
• conducting regular safety screenings and updating safety plans as needed
• coordinating with others to facilitate communication and reduce the need to repeatedly share personal history

Personal information and privacy

Liaisons have specialized training in family violence, coercive control, and safety screening and planning. They are committed to providing trauma-informed and client-centered support and always maintaining strict confidentiality.

Information is shared only with consent, except where required by law. When consent is provided, information-sharing protocols help court partners coordinate services across family, criminal, protection order, and child and family services to better support safety and reduce barriers.

This helps to:

• reduce conflicting orders and conditions
• improve coordination and decision-making across courts
• minimize the need to repeatedly share personal information or history

Contact

Connect with the Family Violence Court Liaison Program:

Email: [email protected]