History:

Kawartha Family Court Assessment Service provides clinical assessments under Section 30 of the Children’s Law Reform Act (also called decision making/parenting plans, which were formerly referred to as custody and access assessments), Section 98 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (also called parenting capacity assessments), and Section 34 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. These assessments are provided for the judiciary in the city of Peterborough and the counties of Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Kawartha Family Court Assessment Service also provides Voice of the Child reports, as well as the New Ways for Families program. 

In addition, the Agency runs the Residential Placement Advisory Committee program as well as the Four Counties Family Court Mediation Program.

Vision, Mission & Values:

Vision:

A community where children, individuals, and families live healthy, safe, and meaningful lives.

Mission:

We assist children, individuals, families, the Courts, and service providers by providing information and clinical analysis through assessments, recommendations, mediation, counselling, and other supportive programs and services. 

Values:

We are guided by the following:

• Service Excellence

We believe in delivering the best possible services for our clients, as defined by the use of best practices established by applicable legislation, professional associations and/or colleges, and regulatory bodies.  

• Inclusivity

We respect the dignity and diversity of children, individuals, and families by welcoming people of all backgrounds, identifies, histories, and needs, and by using inclusive processes.  

• Resiliency

We believe in the potential for change within individuals and families, and we look to build on their inner strengths.  We recognize the best interest of children as a paramount concern.  Where possible, we also support maintaining the integrity of family units and offering least intrusive interventions.  

• Partnership

We work together with our community partners in a collaborative way, exploring opportunities for shared innovations and service improvements.

• Teamwork

We work together within our agency to foster a positive organizational culture, support one another, and create a healthy work environment. 

Code of Ethics:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy:

Kawartha Family Court Assessment Service is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within its organization.

This policy is applicable but not limited to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; layoffs; terminations; the delivery of our services and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity.

The policy applies to all employees, Board Members, contractors, vendors and clients within the communities that we serve. This makes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) everyone’s responsibility.

We are guided by internal and external insights, best practices and continual employee feedback which together helps remind KFCAS that while diversity changes by location, inclusion is the same everywhere.

Our strategic plan complements our beliefs and encourages that we continually evolve while ensuring that our approach remains relevant to meet the changing demands of the communities that we serve.

Employee Responsibilities:

1. Respecting the dignity and diversity of all people
2. Creating an inclusive environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and bullying.

(Refer to the policy regarding Working Conditions, Section 11.11 in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual)

• Enhancing their awareness of potential unconscious bias and how that might hinder our ability to be more inclusive and collaborative with one another.
• Focusing on conscious inclusion to be more intentional with their actions to drive diversity, equity and belonging.

Definitions:

Equity “Where everyone is treated according to their diverse needs in a way that enables all people to participate, perform, and engage to the same extent.” (Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion). Unlike equality, equity does not aim to treat all individuals in the exact same way. Instead, equity recognizes that advantages and barriers exist, and that as a result, people have different needs that must first be addressed to ensure their access to opportunities.

Inclusion/Belonging is creating a culture that embraces, respects, accepts, and values diversity. It is a mindful and equitable effort to meet individual needs, so everyone feels valued, respected, and able to contribute to their fullest potential. Whereas numerous factors (e.g. colonization, geo-political economics, migration, local demographics) generate the particular mix of diversity in a community or organization, inclusion is the choice and the activity that helps to create a more diverse mix and helps the mix work well for all members of the community or organization. Inclusion means that members feel a sense of belonging, security, acceptance, and support. (Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion).