Child Abuse. A simple guide on understanding what child abuse is.
Who can help protect children?
Understanding the basics of how the Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) work to serve the community can work as an essential tool to help create positive impacts on people’s lives. It can help educate and make awareness for an essential body someone may not know existed.
There are 50 Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario to help serve children, youth and families. These agencies may also provide different services such as children’s mental health services and parenting and youth programs.
What is child abuse?
Children’s Aid Societies help protect infants, children, and youth. If you or a loved one are experiencing:
- Abuse
- Physically
- Sexually
- Emotionally
- Neglect
- Abandonment
The Children’s Aid can safely assist with the matter. They will conduct assessments and intervene for the well being and safety of the child. Encouraging someone to call for help is always powerful and may create a tremendous positive impact on someone’s life. One big misconception is “if I call, will they take the child away from their parents.” The societies immediate calling is not to pull a child away from their parent guardian, they strive to ensure that children can stay with their families but want to ensure the environment is safe. In the unfortunate event, sometimes children must be pulled because the environment may not render to be safe. If the CAS does decide to pull the child, they will look for family and kin before placing the child into any other alternative arrangement. It is only when there is no alternative CAS may canvas the idea of a substitute form of care. The legislation governing CAS is set out in the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
What may trigger child abuse?
Triggers that may lead to abuse can come from various conducts some may include:
- Poverty
- Guardian unemployment
- Mental health challenges
- Housing
- Drug addiction
- Anger challenges
These triggers may not allow the parent guardian to keep a safe and controlled environment for a child. This is when the Children’s Aid Societies can be contacted for assessments to provide their expert skills and crisis intervention services.
I believe a child is being harmed
If you suspect or know of a child that is being harmed, you should act to call your local Children’s Aid Society. It is not mandatory you be certain that a child is in absolute need of aid. It is only the reasonable trigger that you suspect harm being done, to trigger a call. The society will connect you with a professional who can help assist with the matter. They are best suited to deal with the next steps.
Knowing that a child is being abused becomes a “duty to report.”
Under section 123 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act,
every person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is or may be in need of protection has the duty to promptly report the suspicion and the information upon which it is based to a Children’s’ Aid Society
They can be available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
You should never shy away from placing the call. CAS will always treat you respect and try their level best to understand your situation and why you believe the child in an unsafe environment. If you suspect child abuse, call your local Children’s Aid Society. Read more about “duty to report” Click here
Ask for further information. Call For A Free Consultation: 905-232-2793
