Name of Organization: Encircle Defence
Website of Organization: TBA – Under Construction
Organization’s Mandate: Parents who are caught in the child welfare system lack integrated, holistic support to help them address the issues that led to child welfare involvement and to position them to parent their children without state intervention. Encircle aims to provide child welfare involved parents with legal representation, support navigating social services, and peer support from parents who have gone through the system.
Project Name: Community Partnership Project
Project Type: Research (memoranda used for internal purposes only)
Project Delivery: Virtual
Description of Project: Many parents do not receive legal information until after child protection proceedings have already begun. By partnering with trusted community organizations, Encircle Defence aims to ensure that families receive accurate legal information earlier, helping them better understand their rights, navigate interactions with child welfare authorities, and access legal assistance before problems escalate.
Many families first seek help from trusted community organizations long before they connect with a lawyer. This project focuses on building relationships with those organizations and increasing access to early legal information for parents who are involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with, the child welfare system
Role of Student Volunteers: Working alongside Encircle lawyers, the student will assist in refining and delivering a presentation designed specifically for "trusted intermediaries”, the community organizations that support vulnerable families and are often the first point of contact when child welfare concerns arise.
The student will also contact organizations by email and telephone to introduce Encircle Defence and our free legal education program. Coordinate presentation opportunities with interested organizations. Track outreach efforts and maintain a partnership database. Identify opportunities for longer-term collaboration and referral pathways between community organizations and the clinic. Attend presentations where possible and assist with follow-up communications
Role of Supervising Lawyer(s): The supervising lawyer will provide guidance and mentorship to the students in addition to reviewing the student’s work and giving timely feedback. The supervising layer will review and give feedback on all work before use by the organization.
Type of Law: Family law, child welfare law.
Main Project Deliverable: Creating produced content (e.g. research memos, brochures, podcasts, etc.)
Number of Student Placements: 1 student
Hours per week the student volunteer(s) will be expected to work: 3-5 hours/week
Regular shifts or a flexible schedule: Flexible.
Is there a workspace provided for the student at the Organization: No
Devices and technologies the students will be required to have: Computer, Internet access, telephone, Zoom
Is there an expectation for the student(s) to be bilingual: No
Law School Pre-Requisites: N/A
Other Requirements or Expectations: N/A