Slide 2 THE FAIR PARENTING PROJECT County of Lanark/ Smiths
Falls Demonstration Community Project Plan Slide 3 What is it all
about? THE FAIR PARENTING PROJECT Slide 4 Approximately 50% of
marriages end in divorce. THE FAIR PARENTING PROJECT Slide 5 When
people divorce, they usually quarrel about money and are unable to
make effective decisions for their children. Slide 6 The Problem:
1.Every childs Parenting Plan has a unique schedule. Slide 7 The
Problem: 1.Every childs Parenting Plan has a unique schedule.
2.Every childs Parenting Plan has unique transfers. Slide 8 The
Problem: 1.Every childs Parenting Plan has a unique schedule.
2.Every childs Parenting Plan has unique transfers. 3.Every childs
Parenting Plan has unique holidays. Slide 9 THE FAIR PARENTING TEAM
Family Law Lawyer Child and Adult Psychiatrist Eric Letts Dr.
Lauren Donen Sandra Christian Sports Coach Slide 10 Developed a
Tried and True Schedule Slide 11 Slide 12 The Problem:
Unfortunately, even cooperative, separated parents on the Fair
Parenting Schedule were facing problems.. Slide 13 The Problem:
When it comes to scheduling childrens activities and engaging in
community services, such as school buses or daycare, separated
parents and their children do not fit in. Slide 14 The Problem: 24%
of children experience their parents separation by the age of 13
years old. When Parents Separate: Further Findings from the
National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, Heather Juby,
Nicole Marcil-Gratton and Cline Le Bourdais Justice Canada 2006.
Slide 15 The Problem: Children with Separated Parents Higher Risk
for: Depression * Anxiety * Dropping Out of School * Teen Pregnancy
* Teen Smoking * Substance Abuse * Criminality * Suicide An
Overview of the Risks and Protectors for Children of Separation and
Divorce, Silvia C. Bernardini, Jennifer M. Jenkins: Department of
Justice Canada, Family, Children and Youth Section, 2002. Slide 16
The Problem: Mitigating Factors: #1 Childhood Involvement in
Community Activities (especially Team Sports) Avoiding Exposure to
parental conflict. Reduced exposure to stressors. Predictable
stable life. Slide 17 The Problem: Mitigating Factors: #1 Childhood
Involvement in Community Activities (especially Team Sports) Slide
18 The Problem: Slide 19 The Problem: No Standardization of
Parenting Plans 1.Separated parents face impossible scheduling
problems; 2.Children with separated parents miss out on community
activities and services; 3.Communities incur costs accommodating
all of the unique parenting plans; and 4.Everyone has to cope with
the inevitable social fallout from parental conflict and at risk
children. Slide 20 The Solution: The Fair Parenting Project
Mission: to use the same parenting plan throughout the community.
Slide 21 Success Story Since 2011, the Fair Parenting Project has
partnered with family law lawyers in the municipality of Carleton
Place, Lanark County, Ontario Canada. Slide 22 Success Story Since
2011, the Fair Parenting Project has partnered with family law
lawyers in the Municipality of Carleton Place, Lanark County,
Ontario Canada. Separating parents have been made aware of the Fair
Parenting schedule. Slide 23 Success Story Since 2011, the Fair
Parenting Project has partnered with family law lawyers in the
municipality of Carleton Place, Lanark County, Ontario Canada.
Separating parents are made aware of the Fair Parenting Project and
the best practices model. There is now a critical mass of children
with separated parents on the same parenting schedule. Slide 24
Success Story Since 2011, the Fair Parenting Project has partnered
family law lawyers in the municipality of Carleton Place, Lanark
County, Ontario Canada. Separating parents are made aware of the
Fair Parenting Project and the best practices model. There are now
over 200 children with separated parents on the same parenting
schedule. Community services can now be offered to cater to these
children. This includes: Daycares School buses Sports programs
Group Counselling Slide 25 Fair Parenting Project What now? Slide
26 Fair Parenting Project What now? 1. Expanding across Ontario; 2.
Continue advocacy for the schedule; 3. Continue advocacy for
separated parents; Billing Software * Cell Phone Policy *
Membership Policies Parking lot Transfers * School Bus Inclusion
Slide 27 Fair Parenting Project What now? Funding 1. Free
memberships 2. Premium Memberships Slide 28 Choices for Families
Re-invent the wheel Problems everywhere Few choices Lots of
conflict Odd duck No benefits Costs lots of money Group advocacy
Power in numbers More choices Less conflict Parents/children fit in
Group benefits Low cost / no cost Go it aloneFair Parenting Plan
Slide 29 Recent Legal Developments Ontario Human Rights Tribunal:
J.O. by his Next Friend E.B. v. London District Catholic School
Board and Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services 2012
Paragraph 72: The Tribunal orders that the respondents amend their
policies and procedures regarding school bus transportation so as
to directly address the accommodation of individuals subject to
custody arrangements that conflict with the Primary Address Policy,
and to articulate the process that the respondents will follow in
addressing such individuals accommodation needs. Federal Court of
Canada Canada (Attorney General) v. Johnstone, 2013 FC 113 (CanLII)
Employers have a duty to accommodate employees parenting
schedules.
