BACKGROUND PAPER

Evaluation of the B.C. Family Maintenance Enforcement Program's Pilot Outreach Project

2004-FCY-4E

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Prepared by:
Focus Consultants

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada .

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© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 2003

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.0  INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THIS REPORT

2.0  DESCRIPTION OF THE PILOT OUTREACH PROJECT

2.1  Background and History
2.2  Underlying Principles and Philosophy of the Pilot Outreach Project
2.3  Objectives of the Pilot Outreach Project
2.4  Structure and Staffing of the Pilot Outreach Project
2.5  Components of the Pilot Outreach Project
2.6  MHR Information Sessions
2.7  Payment Conferences

3.0  DESCRIPTION OF THE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK AND METHODS

3.1  Description of the Evaluation Framework
3.2  Evaluation Framework
3.3  Data Collection Methods

4.0  RESEARCH ISSUES

4.1  Incompleteness of Data on Payment Conference Summary Sheet and Referral Forms
4.2  Incompleteness and Inconsistency of Data
4.3  Low Completion Rate of Payor Telephone Survey

5.0  EVALUATION FINDINGS

5.1  Assessment of Client Meetings by Family Justice Counsellors
5.2  Client Meeting Survey
5.3  Payment Conference Outcome Assessment
5.4  Payment Conference Telephone Survey
5.5  Value of the Pilot Outreach Project as a Staff Skills Development Opportunity

6.0  SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

6.1  Summary of Broad Objectives and Methodologies
6.2  Conclusions
6.3  Research Implications

APPENDIX 1: CLIENT MEETING SURVEY FORM

APPENDIX 2: FMEP PILOT OUTREACH PROJECT

APPENDIX 3: PAYMENT CONFERENCE OUTCOME ASSESSMENT FORM

APPENDIX 4: PILOT OUTREACH PROJECT

APPENDIX 5: FMEP PILOT OUTREACH PROJECT

ENDNOTES

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1  Referrals per Site

Table 2  Number of Referrals to and Attendance at Payment Conferences, January 2002—December 2002 (FMEP Data)

Table 3  FMEP Pilot Outreach Project: Evaluation Framework

Table 4  Reasons for Referrals of Payors to Client Meetings

Table 5  Reasons for Referrals of Recipients to Client Meetings

Table 6  Payor Needs Identified by Family Justice Counsellors

Table 7  Recipient Needs Identified by Family Justice Counsellors

Table 8  Payor Barriers Identified by Family Justice Counsellors

Table 9  Rating of Client Meetings by Family Justice Counsellors

Table 10  Ways in Which the Client Meetings Enhance the Services Provided by the Family Justice Centres

Table 11  Benefits of Client Meetings to Clients (As Assessed by FJCs)

Table 12  Benefits of Client Meetings to Family Justice Counsellors

Table 13  Recipient Assessment of Payment Level and Regularity

Table 14  Payor Assessment of Payment Level and Regularity

Table 15  Assistance Clients Wanted to Obtain from the Client Meeting

Table 16  Types of Information Provided at the Client Meeting

Table 17  Client Evaluation of Quality of Client Meeting

Table 18  Client Rating of Helpfulness of Client Meeting

Table 19  Number of Prior Telephone Contacts with the FMEP

Table 20  Outcomes Measured by the Payment Conference Outcome Assessment

Table 21  Date of FMEP Enrollment

Table 22  Monthly Payment Requirements

Table 23  Number and Type of Active Enforcement Mechanisms in Place Prior to the Payment Conference

Table 24  Amount of Arrears Owed by Payors

Table 25  Total Payments Made

Table 26  Financial or Asset Information Provided at the Payment Conference

Table 27  Intermediate Payment Related Outcomes of the Payment Conference

Table 28  Post Conference Payments Made (All Types of Payments)

Table 29  Status of Default Hearings

Table 30  Issues Dealt with at the Payment Conference

Table 31  Payor Rating of the Quality of the Payment Conference

Table 32  Helpfulness of the Payment Conference

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