What to learn about the survivor’s situation
Depending on whether your organization has already done an intake or needs assessment or risk assessment with your client, you may want to explore some basic questions with the woman in your first meeting(s) together.
TIP: Before you begin asking her questions, remind her of your duty to report where you suspect child abuse, so she can decide what information she wants and doesn’t want to share with you.
Assess risk
- Level of risk, safety issues – Checklist: Red flags for risk (PDF)
- What is the abuser’s situation?
- What are her fears?
- Status of the relationship
- Are they living in the same location?
- Does she want to leave? If yes, does the abuser know?
- The abuse
- What forms of abuse has she been subjected to? See the Abuse checklist (PDF)
- What is the pattern of abuse in the relationship? Where are they at now in the cycle?
- Has the abuse changed recently? Is it escalating?
- Challenges and barriers she has faced
- In getting help, information?
- In trying to leave the abuser?
Children and their safety
If she has children…
- How old are they?
- What are her safety concerns about them?
- Where are they? Who do they live with?
- Are there any family court orders about them? Is there another parent in their lives?
- If abduction is a safety issue, what’s their status in Canada? Where are their passports? If this is a concern, see: LukesPlace.ca: Ways to prepare for, prevent and respond to an international abduction (website video)
Her family law issues / what she wants to resolve
Family law issue: Arrangements for the children
- Where will the children live?
- How will decisions be made about them?
- How can the children safely see the other parent?
- What will happen if one parent wants to move or travel with the children?
Family law issue: Safety
- How can she and the children keep safe from her ex-partner?
- What can she do if it’s not best for the children to leave the family home?
Family law issue: Finances and property
- How can she get financial support from her ex-partner for the children and for herself?
- How will they divide up the property?
Family law issue: Divorce
- Does she want a divorce?
Her family court case
- If her family law case has already begun, what stage is it at?
- Does she have a lawyer?
- Is she eligible for duty counsel or family advice lawyer services or a legal aid certificate, as may be available in your jurisdiction?
Other important things to learn
- Intersections with other areas of law
- RCMP/police: Is her partner charged? Is she?
- Is child protection involved?
- Are there immigration related legal issues?
- Are she and her partner/ex married or in a common-law relationship?
- What supports does she have? (e.g., supportive family nearby, circle of friends, employment, housing)
- What supports does she need? (e.g., health/accessibility, language interpretation, culturally specific, housing, financial, counselling, childcare, legal advice)
- What is she asking for?
- What do you think might be helpful?