Tips about making agreements

• If possible, get help from a lawyer or advocate as soon as possible and before you try to reach an agreement with the social worker. The lawyer or advocate can go with you to meetings, help explain your rights, or help negotiate with the social worker.
• If you can’t get a lawyer or advocate to help you understand and write the agreement, get a lawyer to check the agreement once it’s written — before you sign it, or after you sign it (if you signed without getting advice).

For information about how to get legal aid help for yourself or your child, see Legal Help.

• It’s important that you’re part of making the agreement. For example, if you use drugs or alcohol, you may decide to work with a counsellor to help you deal with it. Be sure the agreement lets you choose a counsellor or program you think you can work with.
• It’s also important to let the social worker know if there’s a reason the agreement stops working for you (for example, your situation changes).
• It’s important to be on time for all your meetings. Call the social worker ahead of time if you can’t go to a meeting or may be late. The social worker keeps track of when you’re late or when you miss an appointment.

• Ask the social worker to be clear about the services or programs you and your family will get. Only agree to do something you clearly understand, or you think you can do. If you don’t do what you agree to, you may have serious problems later.
• Ask the social worker to say exactly what you have to do and what happens if you don’t meet all the terms. Get this included in your written agreement.
• The agreement should be clear about how the social worker decides when you’ve done something — and if you’ve done it well enough. For example, if the social worker says you have to take a parenting course, do you have to go to every class and prove you did, or is it enough for the person giving the course to say you finished it?

• Be sure the agreement gives you enough time to make the changes you have to make. If you agree to do something by a certain date, make sure that’s possible for you. The social worker may take serious action if you don’t follow the agreement.
• Check that programs and people you’re going to rely on will work within the time limits in the agreement.
• When you negotiate, think about how your situation could change. Ask for flexible time limits. It isn’t easy to make changes within a family. Your agreement should allow for that fact.

• Make sure everything you agree to do and everything the social worker agrees to do is put in writing. It’s very important the written agreement says exactly what you and the social worker are expected to do.
• You can refer to the document to make sure both you and the social worker meet your responsibilities. Keep a copy handy to remind yourself of what everyone agreed to.

• Always keep notes when you speak to or meet with the social worker, your community worker, advocate, or lawyer. Also keep track of court dates, meetings, and deadlines. Mark them on your calendar.
• It’s best to use one notebook for all your notes, records, and timelines. That way, all of your papers are in one place.