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When to Contact HSLDA for Member Support

An HSLDA membership covers you for more legal support than you may think. The mandate of HSLDA Canada is to assist Canadian homeschooling families with legal problems relating to their home education. However, the legal team knows that a challenging situation that has nothing to do with homeschooling can, especially if not promptly addressed, have a serious impact on the family’s homeschool.

The lawyers serving HSLDA members have expertise in a number of areas and if your issue is within our areas of expertise we won’t hesitate to give you information and advice. Often, that information or advice can make a drastic difference in the outcome.

Is it an Emergency, Urgent Issue, or General Homeschool Help?

Use the short list in the table below to understand when to contact us by:

  • Phone – calling is ideal for emergency situations and many urgent matters;
  • Email – an email is most helpful for general questions, especially if you’re looking for documents, files or just want a written record of your communication with us.

We welcome your call for all general member support too. Our office staff are always happy to speak with you about any homeschooling inquiries. Have your membership number ready to share when you call.

When to Call for Member Support

This list does not cover every situation in which members may request support, but it highlights the more common issues we assist with.

Call immediately — don't wait!

Emergency

  • A child protection representative is at your door;
  • You have a meeting with a medical official, CAS, police, or the school board next day;
  • Your child has run away from home;
  • Your child becomes hospitalized for mental health reasons.
Call soon during business hours

Urgent

  • Disagreement, conflict, or meeting request from health or government authorities;
  • Opposition about homeschooling from extended family members;
  • Mental health concerns about parent or child;
  • Unusual requests from school board or homeschool liaison;
  • You receive a letter or a phone call from child protective services or a school board requesting a meeting;
  • You’re asked to submit a form to an authority (medical official, CAS, police, or school board).
Call or email for general member assistance

Coaching

  • Book a one-on-one consultation with a home education specialist;
  • Ask any homeschooling question; 
  • Help with government forms and demands;
  • Questions related to family law;
  • Child is 2 grades or more behind in any subject and still not progressing well.




More About Legal Help for Members

Early intervention is always an essential part of homeschooling because you never know when or how fast you’ll need help. In our work with thousands of homeschooling families across Canada, we generally receive calls from members who have a problem in one of two broad categories:

  1. They need advice about an issue directly related to their homeschool;
  2. They need advice about an issue that does not directly relate to their homeschool but could impact it.

Situations that are directly related to homeschooling: 

  • Unsolicited home visits from government officials or school boards;
  • Requests from government officials or school boards for documentation or information that exceeds what is legally required;
  • Investigations by child protection authorities about homeschooling;
  • Overreach by homeschool liaisons;
  • Challenges to home education by ex-spouses or other unsupportive family members.

Situations that aren’t directly related to homeschooling, but could impact it:

  • Disagreement or conflict with a medical professional providing care to a child or parent;
  • Hostile neighbours;
  • Information about the process of properly investigating and addressing sexual abuse allegations, regarding what the caller’s legal obligations are (depending on their role, whether leader, member, parent, or other role);
  • Parameters of acceptable discipline according to Canadian law and child protection agency standards;
  • The ability of homeschooled youth to pursue employment;
  • Parents working while also homeschooling their children;
  • The age at which children can babysit or be home alone;
  • Mental health concerns about a parent or child;
  • Issues relating to fostering and adopting, and;
  • Information about family law (while we do not take family law cases, we can provide information about the process, how homeschooling has been treated as an issue, and general family law principles. We can also speak to a member’s lawyer about homeschooling as an issue in family law, and how the lawyer can best present evidence about homeschooling).

We would always prefer that you contact us and ask to speak to a lawyer too soon rather than too late. If you think to yourself, “maybe I should call HSLDA,” you definitely should, and we will do our best to help.

If you are dealing with an emergency situation that you need advice about quickly, but the office is closed, you can still call the HSLDA Canada main line (519-913-0318) outside business hours. Follow the voicemail instructions to get in touch with a lawyer and have your membership number ready to share when you get a call back.

Nine times out of ten, the people who call us seeking legal assistance never thought they would need to speak to a lawyer about homeschooling. They are just regular homeschoolers who — sometimes suddenly — find themselves in a situation they can’t handle on their own.

Professional Advice You Can Trust

Our expert Member Services Team provides members with answers to the big questions of homeschooling.

Does your child learn differently?

If your child has been diagnosed with exceptional needs or if you suspect they may have learning challenges, our special needs consultant can help steer you to success.

  • One-hour free consultation
  • Locate resources specific to your child’s situation
  • Get started on an Individual Education Plan
  • Receive helpful advice teaching for your unique learner
  • Certified Educational Therapist
  • Experienced Early Childhood Educator for the developmentally handicapped
  • Veteran home educator of 5 children with 30+ years experience

Trouble choosing a curriculum?

There is no end to quality resources available to home educators but sometimes the volume of choice can feel overwhelming. Meeting with one of our curriculum consultants simplifies the choices and provides clear direction.

  • Free consultation
  • Share your needs and challenges
  • Get expert advice on how to choose curriculum and suggestions for your unique family
  • Ensure the curriculum you choose aligns with education standards in your province
  • Receive advice from veteran home educators with deep knowledge of homeschool curriculum

Need Empowerment?

Although the member site is full of helpful resources, there are times when you need personalized advice from an expert. Our member service team is always available to answer your questions and provide encouragement.

  • Ask any homeschool question
  • Find support and encouragement
  • Get advice you can trust
  • Veteran homeschoolers
  • 100+ years of combined education experience at all education levels
  • Conference speakers
  • Empathetic & encouraging

Join Canada’s largest association of homeschooling families.

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