If a social worker from the ministry or a delegated Aboriginal agency contacts you or visits your home, you may be under investigation. You have the right to free legal advice.
Call the Parents Legal Centre (PLC) immediately at 1-888-522-2752 (1-888-LABC-PLC) to find out if you qualify for a free lawyer and an advocate.
The PLC lawyer and advocate can help you address the social worker’s concerns about your children’s safety (child protection) early on. Together they can help you find solutions that work for you and your family.
You may be eligible for PLC services if:
- your income and assets fall within a qualifying range, and
- you are a parent, guardian, or a person standing in the place of a parent.
If you already have a lawyer working with you on your child protection issue, Parents Legal Centres can't help you.
There are ten PLCs located across BC. To find a centre near you, see the map below. Enter your address or postal code and select the checkbox next to Parents Legal Centres.
If you don't live near a PLC, you can get help at a PLC Network location in your community.
Parents Legal Centres help parents resolve their child protection matters early and collaboratively, offering services at any stage of the child protection matter.
The centres provide:
- information and advice on options for resolving child protection issues out of court,
- legal advice and representation, where appropriate, through collaborative processes such as mediation and family case planning conferences,
- legal advice and representation at uncontested hearings,
- an advocate who will support you and go with you to meetings and appointments, and
- referrals to other services, including online resources and other public agencies.