Welcome to our fourth quarterly ELAN. You'll find links here to all the non-time-sensitive blog entries that have been posted since October 3, 2011. Remember, we welcome your comments on entries!

My life as an LSS intake worker

A day in the life of an LSS intake worker. read more>>

Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, launches legal aid awareness campaign

The BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association has launched a campaign to build public support for legal aid. read more>>

Hot off the press from LSS:

• New! If You Can’t Pay Your Court Fine on Time in French read more>>
• New! A Guide to Aboriginal Harvesting Rights read more>>
• Revised Men Abused by Their Partners read more>>
• Revised Speaking to the Judge Before You Are Sentenced read more>>

Expanded orthotics coverage for people on social assistance

The BC Ministry of Social Development made changes to their orthotics program as of August 2, 2011, to cover a wider range of medical footwear and orthotic needs. read more>>

Legal aid services expanded to Aboriginal communities around BC

Five legal aid offices have now expanded their legal aid services to Aboriginal communities around BC. read more>>

Screening expanded to all Child in the Home of a Relative (CIHR) program recipients

Effective September 1, 2011, families who receive benefits from the Ministry of Social Development through the Child in the Home of a Relative (CIHR) Program, and who started to receive CIHR benefits before 2007 will be required to undergo screening checks. read more>>

BC’s new Family Law Act receives Royal Assent

On November 24, 2011, BC’s new Family Law Act (Bill 16) received Royal Assent after its Third Reading. read more>>

Changes to the Federal Child Support Guidelines

Effective December 31, 2011, the federal Department of Justice has revised the Federal Child Support Guidelines to update the child support tables, which set out the amount of child support that is payable. read more>>

Intake in Northwest BC

The challenges and rewards of doing legal aid intake in Northwest BC. read more>>

Change to eligibility for shelter benefits when a child is removed by the Ministry of Children and Family Development

Effective May 3, 2011, a policy change by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will help parents who receive welfare benefits and whose children have been removed by the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) due to alleged child protection concerns. read more>>

Ordering LSS publications online

Our publisher, Crown Publications, recently updated their website with a new look and a new ordering process. With that in mind, here’s a quick walkthrough of how you can order almost all LSS publications, for free, from Crown Publications. read more>>

Repeal and grandfathering of the Community Volunteer Supplement

On August 9, 2011, the Employment and Assistance Regulation and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation were amended to repeal the sections under which the Community Volunteer Supplement (CVS) and the monthly incentive supplement were provided by the Ministry of Social Development. read more>>

Annual legal aid funding increased

The Attorney General of BC announced that the Legal Services Society would be receiving an additional $2.1 million in funding for family and child protection law beginning in April 2012. read more>>

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This newsletter is legally current as of the date of publication.