Our Why.
We honour the parents currently navigating the system.
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We honour the parents whose children returned, but are still experiencing the after effects and processing the trauma of separation.
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We honour the parents and communities grieving the loss of children who were forcibly removed, and will never make it back home.
Our mission is deeply rooted in our commitment to supporting families and communities that have experienced and continue to experience the harm perpetuated by the child welfare/family policing system, and the intergenerational effects of child welfare involvement. Founded in May 2022, Family Advocacy Support Centre (FASC) is driven by a dedication to shifting mindsets away from reliance on intrusive interventions and family separation as responses to child maltreatment and parental challenges.
At FASC, we firmly believe in addressing the root causes and social conditions that render families vulnerable to over-reporting and disproportionalities within the child welfare system. Inspired by Dorothy Roberts, we employ the term "family policing system" to accurately reflect the role this system plays in the lives of families—an approach encompassing surveillance, regulation, and punishment, akin to policing rather than fostering children’s welfare. A system that disproportionately affects Indigenous, Black, and low-income families and communities.
We invite you to join us in reimagining possibilities and alternatives for supporting families—one that does not perpetuate the systems of power and harm ingrained in the current child welfare/ family policing system. Together, we can strive for a future where families receive the support and resources they need to thrive, free from the cycle of harm and intervention.
Special Thanks:
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Lynne Marshalsay - an amazing mother, grandmother, community leader and advocate for parents impacted by Alberta's child intervention system.
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Crystal Johnson - an amazing mother, our very own peer facilitator lead & parent advisory council who is using her experience to inspire, empower, and uplift other mothers who have been impacted by child welfare involvement.
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We are grateful for their support, knowledge, and continued guidance in informing the work we do with families.
OUR PILLARS
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EDUCATION
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SUPPORT
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ADVOCACY
Our Focus.
Our work is focused on advancing access to justice by producing and distributing public legal education and information (PLEI) resources on child welfare legislation, and Child & Family Services (CFS) policies and processes. We empower parents through education and skills building, facilitate transformative capacity building trainings for service providers, peer groups, and community driven system change initiatives.