Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative Evaluation
Appendix A:
Data Collection Instruments
SFI Evaluation: Case Study Interview Guide
- I. Background and Interview Data
- 1. Name of initiative, service or program:
- 2. Type of Project/Initiative:
- FJI
- Pilot
- PLEI
- 3. Is this project:
- Completed
- Ongoing
- 4. Jurisdiction:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
- 5. Date of Interview: d / m / y
- 6. Participants in case study interview:
- 1. Name, Position
- 2. Name, Position
- 3. Name, Position
- 4. Name, Position
- 5. Name, Position
- II. Project Scope and Objectives
- 7. What is the key family justice issue/area that this project address (is addressing)?
- Parenting arrangements (custody and access)
- Compliance/enforcement support
- Support for children
- Training of legal professionals
- Parent education/awareness (family law/family justice).
- Broader community education (family law/ family justice
- Improving efficiencies or business practices in management coordination or enforcement (e.g. support enforcement)
- Improving access to family justice
- Specialized assistance (high conflict parents)
- Other. Describe:
- 8. Are these activities stand-alone or are they delivered within a broader range of service initiatives?
- Stand-alone
- Part of a broader initiative
- 9. What is the scope of delivery of this project?
- One site
- Multiple sites
- Regional delivery
- Available through the P/T
- Other:
- 10. Brief description of the project(s) receiving SFI funding. (Note: if this is an ongoing program, describe enhancements to the program enabled by the funding):
- 11. How significant was the federal funding in terms of enabling your jurisdiction to implement this project?
- Highly significant – could not have implemented it without the funding
- Very significant
- Moderately significant
- A little bit significant
- Not really significant ? question 13
- 12. (If project funding was significant in any way) In what way did the funding allow you to do things you might not otherwise have been able to do in this project?
- 13. (If a pilot project) Did your jurisdiction continue the project after completion of the pilot?
- Yes
- No? Why not?
- 7. What is the key family justice issue/area that this project address (is addressing)?
- III. Project Accessibility
- 14. What population has this activity been most directed to? (Check all that apply.)
- Separated mothers
- Separated fathers
- Separated mothers in high conflict situations
- Separated fathers in high conflict situations
- Other family members/caregivers involved with separated families
- Community at large
- Legal professionals (e.g. family lawyers, mediators, courtworkers)
- Youth
- Children
- Self-represented litigants
- Family justice programs staff/including support enforcement/systems staff
- Other. Describe:
- 15. Does the project address the needs of cultural or linguistic minority groups?
- YES
- Describe how this was achieved:
- NO
- YES
- 16. Does the project address geographic barriers to services and programs?
- YES
- Describe how this was achieved:
- NO
- YES
- 17. Does the project address other barriers affecting the access of separated/divorced parents to family justice programs and services?
- YES
- Describe how this was achieved:
- NO
- YES
- 14. What population has this activity been most directed to? (Check all that apply.)
- IV. Assessment of the Impacts and Outcomes of the SFI-funded Project
- 18.
- A. To what extent has the project addressed the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (question 19)
- B. Please describe the specific ways the project has addressed these needs.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods did the project use to meet these objectives?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of these objectives?
- A. To what extent has the project addressed the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce?
- 19.
- A. To what extent has this project helped parents gain an understanding of the family justice system?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (question 20)
- B. Please describe the specific ways the project has achieved this objective.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods have been used to achieve this objective?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of this objective?
- A. To what extent has this project helped parents gain an understanding of the family justice system?
- 20.
- A. To what extent has the project contributed to parents having an enhanced awareness and understanding of parental obligations and compliance in the areas of custody, access and support?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (question 21)
- B. Please describe the specific ways the project has achieved this objective.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods have been used to achieve this objective?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of this objective?
- A. To what extent has the project contributed to parents having an enhanced awareness and understanding of parental obligations and compliance in the areas of custody, access and support?
- 21.
- A. To what extent has your initiative contributed to improving the knowledge and skills of parents to help them reach appropriate custody, access and support agreements?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (question 22)
- B. Please describe the specific ways the initiative has achieved this objective.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods have been used to achieve this objective?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of this objective?
- A. To what extent has your initiative contributed to improving the knowledge and skills of parents to help them reach appropriate custody, access and support agreements?
- 22.
- A. To what extent has this initiative contributed to enhancing the ability of parents to comply with their custody, access and support arrangements or agreements?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (question 23)
- B. Please describe some specific ways this project has met this objective.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods have been used to achieve this objective?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of this objective?
- A. To what extent has this initiative contributed to enhancing the ability of parents to comply with their custody, access and support arrangements or agreements?
- 23. If this project involved high conflict parents please comment on strategies specifically addressing their needs and how these impacted on increased compliance.
- 24.
- A. Overall, to what extent has this project helped contribute towards the increased effectiveness and responsiveness of the family justice system in addressing the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent (Thank the respondent and terminate the interview)
- B. Please describe the specific ways the initiative has achieved this objective.
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- C. What strategies and methods have been used to achieve this objective?
- D. What evidence demonstrates the achievement of this objective?
- A. Overall, to what extent has this project helped contribute towards the increased effectiveness and responsiveness of the family justice system in addressing the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce?
- 18.
Family Lawyer/Mediator Web-based Survey Questionnaire
- I. Introduction
- This survey asks for your observations on the needs of parents experiencing separation and divorce and on the impacts and outcomes of family justice services and programs funded by the Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative (SFI). The SFI is a federal Justice initiative that assists parents by providing support and funding to the provinces and territories for services such as government supported mediation, child support enforcement services, public legal education and information (PLEI), parenting after separation courses, supervised access, research and other services and programs. It is not necessary to have a detailed understanding of the SFI in order to complete this survey.
- II. Respondent Practice Background
- 1. What is your practice background? (Please check only one answer.)
- Family mediator (not a lawyer)
- Family lawyer (who does not normally provide mediation)
- Family lawyer/mediator (who regularly provides mediation services to clients)
- Other family justice role if not described above:
- 2. How many years have you been involved in the practice of family law or family mediation?
- Less than 5 years
- From 5 to less than 10 years
- From 10 to less than 20 years
- 20 years or more
- 3. If you conduct family mediation related to custody, access or support, how much mediation have you completed in the last year?
- None
- 1 – 5
- 6 – 10
- 11 – 20
- Over 20
- 4. In what jurisdiction is your practice primarily located?
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
- 1. What is your practice background? (Please check only one answer.)
In all of the questions that follow, please give your answer in relation to the jurisdiction in which you primarily practice, as just indicated. The year 2009 is frequently referenced in the QUESTIONS; because that is the year the Supporting Families Initiative began.
- III. Family Needs and Awareness
- 5. How aware do you think separated parents are of the availability of the following types of family justice services in your province or territory?
Service Level of Parent Awareness Very Aware Quite Aware Somewhat Aware Not Very Aware Not Aware Unable to Assess Education/information programs for separated parents Government supported mediation PLEI on custody/access/support (pamphlets/books) Web-based PLEI Child support enforcement services Supervised access and exchange services Post separation support for children - 6. How helpful do you think these services are for parents who have experienced separation and divorce?
Service Helpfulness of Service Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Somewhat unhelpful Very Unhelpful Unable to Assess Parent education/information programs Government supported mediation PLEI on separation & divorce (pamphlets/books) Web-based PLEI Child support enforcement services Supervised access and exchange services Post separation support for children
- 5. How aware do you think separated parents are of the availability of the following types of family justice services in your province or territory?
- IV. Accessibility of Family Justice Services to Parents
- 7. Since 2009 do you feel that the degree of access by parents to the types of family justice services and programs described above has changed?
- Access has increased
- Access has remained the same
- Access has decreased
- Unable to comment
- 8. To what extent are family justice services and programs available to parents in the more remote (less urban) geographic regions of your province or territory?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent
- Unable to comment
- 9. To what extent are family justice services and programs available to parents from cultural or linguistic minorities?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent
- Unable to comment
- 10. Since 2009 has there been a change in the frequency with which parents have accessed mediation services to address custody/access or child support?
- Use of mediation has increased
- Use of mediation has remained the same
- Use of mediation has decreased
- Unable to comment
- 7. Since 2009 do you feel that the degree of access by parents to the types of family justice services and programs described above has changed?
- V. Custody and Access Agreements and Compliance
- 11. How aware are separated parents of their custody and access responsibilities?
- Very aware
- Quite aware
- Somewhat aware
- Not very aware
- Not aware at all
- Unable to comments
- 12. How aware are separated parents of their child support responsibilities?
- Very aware
- Quite aware
- Somewhat aware
- Not very aware
- Not aware at all
- Unable to comments
- 13. Since 2009 do you feel that separated parents have become generally more knowledgeable about the different processes that are available, such as mediation, to reach appropriate custody, access and support agreements?
- Much more knowledgeable
- More knowledgeable
- Knowledge seems about the same
- Less knowledgeable
- Much less knowledgeable
- Unable to comment
- 14. To what extent are family justice professionals, such as yourself, aware of the factors (such as parent conflict) that make it difficult for parents to follow their custody, access and support agreements?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent
- Unable to comment
- 15. Since 2009 have parents shown an increased ability to meet their custody and access responsibilities?
- Greatly increased capacity
- Increased capacity
- Capacity about the same as it was pre-2009
- Smaller capacity
- Much smaller capacity
- Unable to comment
- 16. To what extent have federal child support enforcement mechanisms such as federal garnishees of wages or the denial of licences encouraged parental compliance with their support obligations?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent
- Unable to comment
- 17. How frequently does parent involvement in mediation lead to parents being able to avoid going to court to handle custody and access?
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Not very often
- Never
- Unable to comment
- 18. Since 2009, to what extent have family justice services contributed to helping high conflict parents better comply with their custody and access agreements?
- To a very great extent
- To a great extent
- To a moderate extent
- To some extent
- To little or no extent
- Unable to comment
- 11. How aware are separated parents of their custody and access responsibilities?
- VI. Parent Satisfaction with Family Justice Services
- 19. In general, as a family justice professional, how satisfied are you with the types of government supported family justice services and programs that are currently available to families experiencing separation and divorce?
- Very satisfied
- Somewhat satisfied
- Both satisfied and dissatisfied
- Somewhat dissatisfied
- Very dissatisfied
- Unable to comment
- 19. In general, as a family justice professional, how satisfied are you with the types of government supported family justice services and programs that are currently available to families experiencing separation and divorce?
Thank you for responding to this survey!
Recruitment Script for Follow-up Interviews
We have one additional request.
We are hoping to talk to a small number of survey respondents by telephone in the next few weeks to discuss some of these questions in more depth. The interview would involve 15 minutes of your time. If you are willing to be contacted for this brief discussion, please enter your name, telephone number and email in the fields below. Apart from allowing us to contact you, the name and contact information you provide will remain confidential and will not be recorded on our interview questionnaire.
- My name (first, last):
- Phone number:
- Email:
Family Lawyer/Mediator Semi-structured Interview Guide
The following questions will be asked in the follow-up interviews with web survey participants who have agreed to be interviewed. The questions explore issues included in the web survey in more depth. The questions are open-ended.
- 1. What are the most critical and emerging family justice needs for parents experiencing separation and divorce?
- 2. How well are these needs being addressed? What the gaps and limitations are in how needs are being addressed, including barriers to access?
- 3. How well are the needs of high conflict parents experiencing separation and divorce being addressed and what are the gaps in services?
- 4. How do family justice service programs such as parent education after separation, mediation or supervised access assist parents in better understanding their custody, access and support obligations? To what degree does understanding contribute to increased compliance?
- 5. In general, what contribution do family justice programs (including mediation) make in terms of helping parents comply with their custody/access and support agreements?
- 6. To what degree have federal policies and legislation (for example, related to the Divorce Act or to the Federal Child Support Guidelines) kept pace with the needs of parents experiencing separation and divorce? What policy and legislation, if any, needs to be addressed.
- 7. Many family justice programs are aimed at increasing parental understanding of their custody, access and support obligations. Can you describe specific ways in which there could be financial benefits to parents or to the courts that result from increased parental understanding of their family obligations?
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