The Family Support The Family Support ProgramProgram

Presenter: Laurie D. MillerPresenter: Laurie D. Miller

20122012

THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMTHE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMAGENDAAGENDA

What is the Family Support Program for What is the Family Support Program for Ontario Works – Review directive 5.5Ontario Works – Review directive 5.5

The Family Support Program in First The Family Support Program in First Nations Communities: How it works in a Nations Communities: How it works in a First Nation Community compared to a First Nation Community compared to a MunicipalityMunicipality

Maintaining your files to satisfy the Maintaining your files to satisfy the Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per Directive – file documentationDirective – file documentation

What is the Family Support What is the Family Support Program for Ontario Works?Program for Ontario Works?

O.W. Directive 5.5: Family Support O.W. Directive 5.5: Family Support Application of PolicyApplication of PolicyAs a condition ofAs a condition of eligibilityeligibility, applicants and , applicants and

recipients recipients areare,, with certain with certain exceptionsexceptions, , requiredrequired to make reasonable efforts to pursue to make reasonable efforts to pursue child or spousal support to which he/she, or a child or spousal support to which he/she, or a dependent may be entitled.dependent may be entitled.

Eligibility for financial assistance Eligibility for financial assistance does notdoes not depend on the actual receipt of support depend on the actual receipt of support payments, but on the payments, but on the effortsefforts being made to being made to obtain it.obtain it.

What is the Family Support What is the Family Support Program for Ontario WorksProgram for Ontario Works

The Ontario Works Act and Regulations The Ontario Works Act and Regulations require applicants and recipients to pursue require applicants and recipients to pursue any income that may be available to them, any income that may be available to them, however, it however, it does notdoes not require them to require them to resolve other legal issues such as custody resolve other legal issues such as custody or access. or access.

Where there are issues in addition to Where there are issues in addition to support, support, referralsreferrals to duty counsel or Legal to duty counsel or Legal Aid Ontario may be the appropriate route to Aid Ontario may be the appropriate route to take.take.

What is the Family Support What is the Family Support Program for Ontario WorksProgram for Ontario Works

Prior to an applicant or recipient being expected Prior to an applicant or recipient being expected to pursue support from another person, there to pursue support from another person, there must be must be evidenceevidence that the person has an that the person has an obligation to support the applicant, recipient obligation to support the applicant, recipient or the dependent. Ie. A sole support parent or the dependent. Ie. A sole support parent with a new babywith a new baby

When it has been determined that the person When it has been determined that the person has an obligation to support, a “Declaration of has an obligation to support, a “Declaration of Support and Maintenance” Form 2212 is Support and Maintenance” Form 2212 is completed.completed.

The Family Support Program in The Family Support Program in First Nations CommunitiesFirst Nations Communities

Being a First Nations member living and Being a First Nations member living and working in your own Community can be working in your own Community can be difficult at times, however you can difficult at times, however you can make it as easy and enjoyable as you make it as easy and enjoyable as you choose.choose.

I think its safe to say we all know whose I think its safe to say we all know whose who in our Communities, but the who in our Communities, but the question remains – how do we deal with question remains – how do we deal with those “tough” situations for the purpose those “tough” situations for the purpose of doing our job? of doing our job?

The Family Support Program in The Family Support Program in First Nations CommunitiesFirst Nations Communities

Let’s say, you’ve just completed an Let’s say, you’ve just completed an Application for financial assistance, eligibility Application for financial assistance, eligibility has been verified, they are a sole support has been verified, they are a sole support parent & you also completed a Form 2212 parent & you also completed a Form 2212 with your client and now you issued their with your client and now you issued their first OW cheque. first OW cheque.

Remember, try your hardest to have the 2212 Remember, try your hardest to have the 2212 Form filled out completely as this form will Form filled out completely as this form will be the basis of whether the file will be be the basis of whether the file will be “waived” or if you will be working toward an “waived” or if you will be working toward an “Agreement” for support.“Agreement” for support.

How it Works in a First Nation How it Works in a First Nation Community Community

vs. a Municipalityvs. a MunicipalityAs a First Nations FSW living and working As a First Nations FSW living and working

within my own Community I think I pretty within my own Community I think I pretty much know all my clients. The point I want to much know all my clients. The point I want to make here is that even though we think we make here is that even though we think we know them, do not assume this. know them, do not assume this.

On first meeting with them, make small talk, On first meeting with them, make small talk, get relaxed, allow your client to get relaxed get relaxed, allow your client to get relaxed and start by introducing the FSW program, and start by introducing the FSW program, what your role is and your mandate.what your role is and your mandate.

Be Open and Honest with them and Hear what Be Open and Honest with them and Hear what they have to say. If we assume we know all they have to say. If we assume we know all about them, it may impair our own ability to about them, it may impair our own ability to really hear what they are saying. really hear what they are saying.

How it Works in a First Nation How it Works in a First Nation Community vs. a MunicipalityCommunity vs. a Municipality

Your clients situation may be a lot different than what Your clients situation may be a lot different than what is portrayed in your Community. Just remember you is portrayed in your Community. Just remember you are there to support your client through this process.are there to support your client through this process.

I recall a client, everyone kept telling me she lived I recall a client, everyone kept telling me she lived with her man, they always seen them in the with her man, they always seen them in the Community together. So when I met here as a sole Community together. So when I met here as a sole support parent we reviewed the program and support parent we reviewed the program and discussed her situation. You know what her life was discussed her situation. You know what her life was really like…she loved and wanted a family so much really like…she loved and wanted a family so much with him that she would do anything to achieve it. with him that she would do anything to achieve it. She thought a baby would make it happen, but in She thought a baby would make it happen, but in reality…he wasn’t there. reality…he wasn’t there.

How it Works in a First Nation How it Works in a First Nation Community vs. a MunicipalityCommunity vs. a Municipality

He had 4 children with different mothers, lived He had 4 children with different mothers, lived at his father’s homestead, so every time he at his father’s homestead, so every time he called my client, of course she isn’t going to say called my client, of course she isn’t going to say no. She initiated the “lets go here and let’s go no. She initiated the “lets go here and let’s go there” scenario to show off to people she had there” scenario to show off to people she had her family. This is what people would see in the her family. This is what people would see in the community, hence the assumptions of them community, hence the assumptions of them living together. I empathized with her situation, living together. I empathized with her situation, however, in doing my job, had to reiterate to her however, in doing my job, had to reiterate to her that as long as she maintains a sole support that as long as she maintains a sole support status, that she would be required to pursue status, that she would be required to pursue support from him.support from him.

Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per

DirectiveDirectiveReview the Audit Requirements of Directive 5.5Review the Audit Requirements of Directive 5.5The key to Audit Requirements is document your The key to Audit Requirements is document your

files. Have supporting evidence to back up files. Have supporting evidence to back up your decisions.your decisions.

Please ensure the Form 2212 is fully completed.Please ensure the Form 2212 is fully completed.Example 1: On an application your female client Example 1: On an application your female client

has separated from her partner due to domestic has separated from her partner due to domestic violence. She tells you the scenario as to why violence. She tells you the scenario as to why she left. Domestic Violence is a mandatory she left. Domestic Violence is a mandatory waiver, so you have the evidence of a domestic waiver, so you have the evidence of a domestic violence situation, do your waiver letter and violence situation, do your waiver letter and mail out to your client and put a copy in the file.mail out to your client and put a copy in the file.

Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per

DirectiveDirectiveExample 2: Your client comes in and has Example 2: Your client comes in and has

no idea who the father could be. She was no idea who the father could be. She was partying one weekend, very intoxicated, partying one weekend, very intoxicated, picked up a guy, didn’t know his name, picked up a guy, didn’t know his name, maybe his first name and that was it. maybe his first name and that was it. Never seen him since, knew absolutely Never seen him since, knew absolutely nothing about him. This file should be nothing about him. This file should be waived as absent parent is unknown. A waived as absent parent is unknown. A waiver letter is issued to client, a copy is waiver letter is issued to client, a copy is on file and you’ve documented the on file and you’ve documented the situation as told to you by client.situation as told to you by client.

Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Maintaining Your Files to Satisfy the Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per Ministry’s Audit Requirements as per

DirectiveDirectiveExample 3: A client comes in and she tells you Example 3: A client comes in and she tells you

she got a court order from the near by city she got a court order from the near by city last year. There is a support provision for last year. There is a support provision for $250 a month. You need a copy of the court $250 a month. You need a copy of the court order on file – ask client to bring it in. You order on file – ask client to bring it in. You need to document this in your file and deduct need to document this in your file and deduct the monthly support if its in pay. If support is the monthly support if its in pay. If support is not in pay then you need your client to not in pay then you need your client to complete an Assignment for the support and complete an Assignment for the support and once the assignment is completed then once the assignment is completed then support is not deducted from their assistance.support is not deducted from their assistance.

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

If you have any questions or want more If you have any questions or want more clarification please feel free to call me at clarification please feel free to call me at 519-445-2084 extension 5326 at the Six 519-445-2084 extension 5326 at the Six Nations Welfare Department or e-mail me Nations Welfare Department or e-mail me at at lmiller@sixnations.ca

Remember we can only do what we can Remember we can only do what we can based on the resources and time we have based on the resources and time we have to do our jobs. to do our jobs.

The FSW function can be as busy as you The FSW function can be as busy as you want it to be or as simple as you want it to want it to be or as simple as you want it to be and you can still achieve success. be and you can still achieve success.