Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

• Physical Abuse - injuring a child by hitting, kicking, shaking, or burning, etc. him/her; also includes throwing objects at the child.

• Emotional Maltreatment - crushing a child's spirit with degrading derogatory verbal attacks, threats, or humiliation.

• Sexual Abuse - sexual contact with a child (incest, inappropriate touching, rape); pornographic use of a child.

• Neglect - failure to provide for a child s physical or emotional needs (food, clothing, shelter, medical care, physical or emotional attention); failure to provide guidance or supervision, abandonment.

​

​

The Child:

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance;

• Displays overt sexualized behavior or exhibits sexual knowledge that is inconsistent with their age;

• Has not received medical attention for a physical injury that has been brought to the parents' attention;

• Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes;

• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen;

• Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too responsible;

• Comes to school early, stays late, and does not want to go home; or

• Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes;

• Has bruises or marks in non-prominent, “fleshy” areas of the body (for example, inside of biceps or behind the knees);

• Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school;

• Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home from school;

• Shrinks at the approach of adults;

• Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.

​

The Parent or Other Adult Caregiver:

• Shows little concern for the child, rarely responding to the school's requests for information, for conferences, or for home visits; denies the existence of or blames the child for) the child's problems in school or at home; asks the classroom teacher to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves; sees the child entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome;

• Demands perfection or a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve;

• Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury;

• Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way;

• Is abusing alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs and that abuse is having an adverse impact on the child;

• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child; or

• Has a history of abuse as a child.

The Child:

• Begs or steals food or money from classmates;

• Lacks needed medical or dental care;

• Lacks age appropriate adult supervision ;

• Lacks clothing appropriate for the weather;

• Reports family violence in the home;

• Reports use of illegal substances or excessive use of alcohol by parents or caregivers (for example, to the point the parent passes out);

• Abuses alcohol or other drugs; or

• States there is no one at home to provide care.

​

The Parent or Other Adult Caregiver:

• Appears to be indifferent to the child;

• Seems apathetic or depressed;

• Is involved in an abusive domestic relationship;

• Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner; or

• Is abusing alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs.

​

Everyone in Ontario, including members of the public and professionals who work closely with children, is required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

​

If you have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is, or may be in need of protection, you must immediately report the suspicion and the information on which it is based directly to a children’s aid society. If you think the matter is urgent and you cannot reach the children’s aid society, call your local police.

​

We all share a responsibility to protect children from harm. This includes situations where children may be at risk, suffer abuse and/or neglect in their own homes. The Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) provides protection for these children.

​

Contact a lawyer or a children’s aid society if you have questions about a specific situation.