Family law for young parents

The Family Law for Young Parents (FLYP) program empowers young parents by equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to handle legal challenges confidently. The workshop series uses experiential learning to address common legal issues they may face.

Over the course of 3-5 sessions, lawyers work with young parents to build legal life skills (advocacy, public speaking, organization, and communication).

Family Law for Young Mothers: Challenge and Change builds on the Family Law for Young Parents (FLYP) program. This 6 – 8 session program uses an interactive, dialogue-based approach that offers youth participants a deeper engagement with family law and legal professionals.

Program goals:

• Build knowledge and awareness of family law procedure and process;
• Develop and practice legal life skills to navigate family  law-related issues;
• Introduce youth to reliable sources of public legal information, and the legal and community-based supports available;
• Make connections between youth and justice sector professionals to build respect, empathy, and understanding.

“Challenge and Change” culminates with young mothers proposing recommendations  to legal professionals about how they could better help young mothers address their legal needs and challenges.

This program was first piloted in Hamilton in 2020-2021 with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

If you would like to offer one of these programs to your group of young parents, fill out our online form or send an email to programs@ojen.ca.