Legal Resources

Children and youth experience various types of crime in various contexts, such as child abuse, bullying, and dating violence. This information sheet is part of the Help Starts Here series and provides information for parents and other family members whose child has been a victim of crime.

Provides information about the Extended Family Program. Under the program, parents who are temporarily unable to care for their children can ask to have their children placed in the care of family or friends, instead of having them go into foster care.

When circumstances prevent a child from living with their parents, the preferred option is for the child to be with someone they know. The Extended Family Program offers services and financial supports to help improve outcomes for children and youth.

Provides brief description about mediation, family group conferencing, and cultural/traditional decision-making. These are alternatives to court for planning and making decisions about child welfare. Links to relevant information sheets are also available.

The legal rights of children vary from those of adults. Learn the rights of children in several contexts, and situations where their views are considered in decisions that affect them.

Under the law, a child born outside marriage is treated the same as a child born to married parents. However, there are some implications for parents and other practical considerations.

If someone reports that a child has been abused (or is likely to be), it starts a legal process designed to keep the child safe. Learn about child protection law.

Identifies the law around child protection for Aboriginal children in BC, sets out some aspects of the child protection/removal process, and explains parents’ and the band’s rights and responsibilities.

This booklet is for the parents or guardians of children. It talks about child abuse in families. It answers questions about the law on child abuse in Canada. This booklet may also be useful even if you are not a parent, but you believe a child you know is being abused.

When you have a protection order against your children’s other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children safe during parenting time and at handover.