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Family Councils Foundations Program, Module 1: Starting a Family Council | Family Councils Ontario

Written by Family Councils Ontario | Oct 5, 2026, 3:36:47 PM

A free, self-paced introduction to what family councils are, what the law says they can do, and how you can start or join one in your long-term care home.

Overview

Family councils give family members and persons of importance to residents a collective voice in long-term care. If you are thinking about starting a council, have just joined one, or want to understand how they work, Module 1 is the place to begin.

Module 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to understanding, forming, and participating in family councils in long-term care homes. It focuses on advocacy, collaboration, and legislative powers, and explores how family councils can work together with homes to improve the quality of life for residents.

The Family Councils Foundations Program supports family members and partners in care as they learn about family councils and their important role in long-term care homes. The program is about learning and building understanding. It is not a test, and you do not need to know everything to take part in a family council.

What you will learn

  • What a family council is and why it matters in long-term care
  • What family councils do in practice
  • The powers family councils have under Ontario’s long-term care legislation
  • What the home (licensee) is responsible for in supporting a family council
  • Your role as a family council member
  • Who can join a family council and how to get one started

Inside the course

  1. Family Councils Foundations Program Overview & Module Orientation
  2. What Is a Family Council?
  3. What Family Councils Do in Practice
  4. Family Council Powers: What the Legislation Says
  5. The Role of the Home/Licensee
  6. Your Role as a Family Council Member
  7. Who Can Join and How to Get Started
  8. Module Summary & Close

Who this course is for

  • Family members and persons of importance to residents in long-term care
  • New council members who want a solid grounding in how councils work
  • Anyone thinking of starting a council in their loved one’s home

Start the course

You will be asked for your name and email before you begin, so we can understand who is using our learning resources.

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Course at a glance

FormatOnline eLearning
Lessons8
PaceSelf-paced
CostFree
LanguageEnglish
AuthorFCO
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