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• Gives immediate legal assistance to individuals who appear in court without a lawyer
• Provides information about legal rights, obligations and basic court procedure
• Helps negotiate or settle issues
• Reviews or prepares court documents to be filed
• Helps determines if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

Provides assistance in:

• The courtroom for child protection hearings
• Garnishment and support hearings
• Requesting adjournments
• Arguing motions
• Hearings for issues such as custody, access, or support where the issues are not complicated

Provides legal advice and assistance to individuals who do not have the means to assert or defend their legal rights through the following services:

• Client representation in clinic areas of practice
• Free summary legal advice
• Information and referral
• Law reform advocacy
• Public education
• Specialized legal services

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS)
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• ID Bank
• Native Status applications
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)
• Workplace safety and injury

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, or Refugee Law

Provides services and supports to families experiencing difficulty with issues related to parenting and children who are in need of protection

• Assesses the strengths and needs of families to assist in healthy problem solving
• Offers counseling

Intake and Investigation

• Serves as the first point of contact with the Children's Aid Society of Algoma
• Accepts and processes reports and/or concerns regarding a suspected child protection issue
• Upon approval to become involved with the family, conducts an assessment including initial intake to determine if a child is at risk
• Assigns a family to a Child Protection Worker if onging intervention is required

Community health centre

• Provides a range of responsive individual, family and community programs and services for the complete life journey of all Anishinabek people
• Cares for the physical health, mental health, and the health of the communities where Anishinabek people live by promoting wellness, preventing illness and trauma, and providing diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation

Offers a variety of programs and services including:

• Child welfare services
• Community health services
• Cultural programs and services
• Mental health and addiction services including walk-in clinics

Note: Not all programs and services are available at the branch offices. Contact the local office to determine what services are offered in community

Operates as a program under the Healing and Wellness Branch

• Developed as a new program aimed at supporting healthy and whole Métis families
• Works to reduce family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care
• Focus is on providing direct one-on-one client services and educational resources and family wellness planning

Services provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• After school safe places and homework clubs
• Assistance in navigating the community support system
• Assisting children and youth to foster self-identity and to develop life skills
• Court-related supports
• Empowering parents to be their children's best advocates
• Ensuring families have their basic needs met
• Guidance for building healthy relationships and raising awareness of personal safety issues
• Peer support for youth involved in justice and correction issues
• Referrals for employment and training programs
• Supports for children and youth who have experienced or witnessed violence
• Supports for Métis youth to stay in school
• Support in case meetings and conferencing

Temporarily closed due to COVID - call Toll Free 1-800-518-0000 or email info@chs.ca for more information on virtual services

• Provides confidential counselling, education, advocacy
• Offers family, relationship, and individual counselling

Offers counselling in the following areas:

• Deaf identity
• Depression, anxiety or bipolar issues
• Domestic violence
• Grief and loss
• Life transitions
• Parenting and family challenges
• Personal development
• Relationship difficulties
• Sexuality
• Substance use
• Trauma (present or past)

• Offers single-session brief counselling services for children, youth, adults, couples and families
• Addresses a variety of issues including but not limited to mental health, addictions, relationships, and daily living activities

LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM - Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

• Offers mental health and general adult counselling, psychotherapy and other treatment services related to mental health issues
• Offers identification and assessment of signs and symptoms of mental health problems
• Provides individual, couples, family or group support
• Counselling provided for a variety of issues including strategies to cope with mental illness, relationships, substance use/abuse, managing stress, parenting challenges, grief/loss, self-esteem and coping strategies
• Provides collaboration and consultation with other service providers
• Offers the Back on Track program (Ontario's remedial measures for impaired drivers)

LOCAL CMHA BRANCH SERVICES DURING COVID-19

CMHA branches are open but many are offering alternative service delivery at this time
Service delivery may be provided:

• in person
• by phone

or in the following virtual ways:

• PCVC - Personal computer video conferencing
• OTN - Ontario Telemedicine Network
• ZOOM - Video/web conferencing platform

Please note: CMHA branch offerings are subject to change in response to the ongoing developments of COVID-19. The website below will reflect the most accurate and current information.

Follow this link to determine how service delivery is being provided by choosing the appropriate CMHA location from the website's drop down list.

Provides legal assistance for low-income people

Services include:

• Legal representation for eligible clients who appear in court without a lawyer
• Legal aid applications and information over the phone
• Legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies
• A certificate program for complex and serious cases

Areas of law served include:

• Criminal
• Domestic violence
• Family

Does NOT cover applications for:

• Wrongful dismissal
• Change of name
• Personal bankruptcy
• Power of attorney
• Money lent to others or money owed to others
• Sponsorship of relatives
• Commercial litigation
• Real estate matters and libel
• Defamation and slander

Provides information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process

• services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies
• crisis intervention, emotional support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund

Provides financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court, including:

• Travel arrangements and expenses
• Language interpretation
• Real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) initiative to assist each Indigenous community to design and deliver their own holistic, prevention-focused services/programs and cultural supports to promote a healthy community and support families as needed in the community

• Focus is on improving the overall health and well-being of communities and to empower families to build healthy relationships
• Works to eliminate family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care

Activities and programs provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• Activities that revitalize Native language
• Alcohol and drug abuse prevention and intervention
• Community events such as feasts
• Family circles, counselling and child/youth support groups
• Referrals to other programs and services
• School programs
• Traditional land-based healing events

• Offers child welfare services, ongoing support and education to enhance the lives of young children and families
• Provides services under the direction of Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services

Offers the following services:

• Intake and assessments to determine needs of families and community
• Case management
• Coordination of customary care and foster care
• Parental and family advocacy and support
• Referrals to outside agencies
• Coordination of events to enhance lives of children and families

• Promotes growth and healing for Indigenous people through culturally-specific services
• Reduces family violence and promotes healthy lifestyles

Provides the following services:

• Applying to healing lodges
• Elder visits
• Supportive peer counselling
• Traditional peer counselling

Programs provided:

• Anger solutions
• Weekly sewing circle
• Traditional health program

Provides individual, group and family counselling on the following issues:

• Domestic violence
• Relationship issues
• Child abuse
• Suicide prevention
• Drug and alcohol addiction

Offers the following cultural services:

• Cultural teachings
• Naming ceremonies
• Sweat lodge ceremonies

Offers a variety of professional counselling services to youth, adults and their families

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Provides essential wokplace counselling and consultation services for businesses, organizations and employees through its EAP
• Functions as short-term counselling for a variety of issues including stress, life changes/stages, separation/divorce, retirement and grief

Counselling services also offered for areas of concern that may include but are not limited to:

• Drug and alcohol use/abuse and mental health
• Past or present abuse against women (Violence Against Women VAW)
• Sexual abuse or assault experienced by men (Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse)
• Domestic violence impacts on children and their mothers
• Abusive relationships between partners (Partner Assault Response PAR)

• Coordinates a safe, nurturing place for children to live who cannot reside in their own home
• Facilitates the Foster Care Process

Offers the following services for foster parents:

• Initial orientation and ongoing training
• Reimbursement for daily living expenses, as well as the child's medical, dental, clothing, and school-related expenses
• Incremental payments which compensate the foster parents for training and experience acquired through the agency
• Supplementary payments which are provided when children require more intensive help or supervision
• Regular visits and support from a family service worker and/or foster home worker
• Access to 24-hour emergency services and support
• Team meetings with other foster parents