AFCC Ontario members are united by a commitment to education, innovation, and collaboration to support communities, empower families, and promote positive outcomes for children.
Through leadership in research and symposiums, we identify emerging issues and advance initiatives that benefit families across Ontario.
Learn more about our recent initiatives below.
Exploring Challenges for Mental Health Professionals, Participation in Parenting Matters within the Family Law System
Dr. Shelley Kierstead and Andrea Barclay
Mental health professionals, especially psychologists and social workers, play a key role in Ontario family law cases by providing parenting assessments, Voice of the Child reports, and therapeutic services. An earlier focus group study conducted by the researchers confirmed concerns that these practitioners are increasingly exposed to online harassment, social media attacks, and formal complaints to their regulatory Colleges when one or both parents are unhappy with a report or therapy process. Participants described emotional stress, defensive practice habits, and in some instances, decisions to abandon this area of work, leaving courts and families with fewer qualified experts.
The present phase, supported by AFCC-O, broadens and deepens the inquiry. First, the researchers are circulating a provincewide survey to psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals to assess the prevalence and impact of complaints, interactions with legal professionals and self-represented litigants, and social-media pressure on their professional and personal well-being. Second, Ms. Barclay and Dr. Kierstead will conduct confidential follow-up interviews with (a) phase 1 focus group volunteers who agreed to speak further and (b) survey respondents who opt in. By combining broad quantitative data with rich qualitative accounts, the researchers aim to identify patterns, coping strategies, and possible reforms to complaint procedures, legislation, or court practices, with the ultimate goal of supporting a robust network of professionals to serve children and families in high-conflict separation and divorce matters.
Recently Completed Research
Adapting the Trauma-Informed Principles to Family Court: A Survey Examining Professionals’ Perceptions
Dr Michael Saini and Laura Pearl Spivak
Ontario family courts face significant challenges in serving diverse and vulnerable families, including those involved in child welfare matters, recent asylum seekers, and families with histories of interpersonal violence. These families often enter the court system during periods of crisis, and the absence of trauma informed care (TIC) increases the risk of re traumatization, emotional activation, disengagement, and poor outcomes.
This study, led by Dr. Michael Saini (University of Toronto) and Laura Pearl Spivack (PhD student at Smith College) with support from AFCC O, developed and tested a survey tool to assess professionals’ views on TIC in Ontario family courts. Over 18 months, 139 professionals – including judges, lawyers, mediators, and mental health practitioners – shared perspectives on their awareness, attitudes, and use of TIC principles: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
Findings revealed low confidence and limited training related to trauma informed practices. Many participants struggled to distinguish trauma from stress and safety from discomfort. Persistent misconceptions included beliefs that TIC applies only to severe trauma, duplicates existing services, favors mothers, or is unsuitable for high conflict cases.
Despite these challenges, participants strongly endorsed TIC values, emphasizing the importance of safety, transparency, cultural sensitivity, consistent judicial actors, and meaningful participation by families. However, there was a clear gap between values and practice. Courts were reported to rarely conduct ongoing safety assessments, inconsistently honor parties’ perspectives, and lack mechanisms to empower families in decision making. The report recommends comprehensive, practice focused training; systemic reforms to embed TIC into daily court operations; culturally responsive practices; and strategies that promote empowerment and collaboration. Addressing these gaps could reduce re traumatization and support more equitable and effective family court outcomes.