Our Collaborative Process

The Bridging the Gaps initiative was established in January 2018 to help ascertain unmet legal needs in Alberta to guide the Foundation’s grant-making. Since then, the Foundation has led community-based research projects and hosted workshops and learning sessions for the Bridging the Gaps participants in person and virtually.

Over the last four years, Bridging the Gaps has become a community where justice stakeholders in Alberta can connect, share knowledge, and collaborate. There are currently 44 organizations in the group. All steps taken in the Bridging the Gaps initiative have been informed by feedback from the community.

What is coming next?

1

Develop a searchable online resource hub on the Foundation’s website to help with knowledge gathering and sharing in the community

2

Develop a platform to host the Matrix of Legal Services in Alberta (data collection about 8 types of legal services provided in 13 areas of law by 23 organizations in the Bridging the Gaps initiative) on the Foundation’s website to help with referrals and coordination of services in the community

3

Conduct a new legal needs assessment to update the findings from the 2018 needs assessment

2022
Jun 01

June, 2022

Online session with Brea Lowenberger and Heather Heavin (University of Saskatchewan) about their recent work developing and implementing an access to justice evaluation framework

Apr 01

April, 2022

Advisory Committee met to discuss next steps for the Bridging the Gaps

Mar 01

March, 2022

Survey and interviews about next steps for the Bridging the Gaps

 

The Bridging the Gaps Advisory Committee was formed

 

First newsletter from the Foundation. Legal service updates and access to justice resources are now being shared monthly with the Bridging the Gaps group and other subscribers

Feb 01

February, 2022

Online information session with the Law Society of Alberta about their Innovation Sandbox

2021
Sep 02

September, 2021

Bridging the Gaps logic model was developed

Jul 01
Mar 01

March – April, 2021

Online workshop series about remote legal service delivery

2020
Nov 01

November, 2020

Remote Legal Service Delivery project started

Aug 01

August – October, 2020

Online meetings with Legal Aid Alberta and legal clinics to discuss communication and coordination strategies

May 01
Apr 01

April – May, 2020

COVID-19 response group online meetings

2019
Nov 01

November, 2019

Workshop focused on Family Law and Child Welfare Law

Oct 01

October, 2019

Matrix of Legal Services in Alberta – Version 3.0 (data collection about 8 types of legal services provided in 13 areas of law by 23 organizations in the Bridging the Gaps initiative). Contact Flora Stevenson at fstevenson@albertalawfoundation.org for more information.

Sep 01

September, 2019

Environmental Scan and Needs Assessment of Child Welfare Legal Services in Alberta project started

May 01

May, 2019

Workshop focused on coordination of legal services in Alberta

Apr 01

April, 2019

The Foundation used the feedback from the Bridging the Gaps group to develop its funding priorities (2019 Annual Funding Guideline Letter)

2018
Dec 01

December, 2018

Workshop focused on legal services to Indigenous individuals and newcomers, Family Law services in remote communities, collaboration among justice stakeholders, and collaboration of legal services

May 01

May, 2018

Workshop to discuss problems and solutions related to the 10 priority areas identified in the needs assessment

Jan 01

January – May, 2018

Environmental Scan and Legal Needs Assessment in Alberta, which included an access to justice literature review, two surveys to test findings and identify top recommendations for the sector, and a questionnaire to gather information about legal services provided and legal needs in the community (summary of findings)