PROJECT:
Family Court Support Work Pilot
2026-2027 | Funded by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
LAUNCHING JUNE 1ST, 2026 - Read the full announcement
This project involves providing support for people who are currently navigating Family Court in the Yukon, including those who believe they will become involved with Family Court in the Yukon in the near future.
The Yukon currently does not have a dedicated Family Court Support Work program, and we intend to use this pilot to demonstrate the need for this to become a permanent part of the support landscape. The pilot will run for 12-months, and we are hopeful that the Family Court Support Work program will find a permanent home in the Yukon outside of YSWC once the need is fully identified and understood.
This service is completely free. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from being connected to a Family Court Support Worker (FCSW) please reach out to us directly at 867-332-3163 or by email at familycourt@yswc.ca
BACKGROUND
A Family Court Support Worker (FCSW) can provide the following supports to people navigating Family Court:
Safety Planning: developing individualized safety plans for clients, including security strategies for entering and leaving the courthouse.
Legal Appointments and Court Accompaniment: accompanying clients to court proceedings, legal aid appointments, and lawyer meetings.
Information & Education: providing information about court procedures, forms, and legal rights without giving legal advice.
Referrals & Support: referring clients to specialized community services, including housing, legal aid, and counseling.
Documentation: assisting with writing legal documents such as Affidavits. Assisting in recording the history of abuse for use in legal proceedings.
Case Support: helping to prepare for meetings with lawyers and court personnel.
Communication: coordinating with criminal court-based services (ie. Victim Services, Crown Witness Coordinators) and legal counsel.
Emotional Support: providing debriefing sessions after meetings with lawyers and/or regarding court outcomes and next steps.
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LEARN MORE
Family Court handles matters of property division, and parenting after divorce or separation, it is not Criminal Court. Involvement with Family and Children’s Services (F&CS) is not handled in Family Court. All of these systems can intersect and overlap, and if you are currently involved with F&CS or in a criminal matter, we can still support you! However, involvement in Family Court is required for eligibility.
Explore some documents, news links and publications related to the project.
YSWC's related projects:
Other legal resources in the Yukon: