Protection FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Child Protection
Child abuse is when a child is hurt intentionally, or when a parent or caregiver fails to protect a child in their care. It is against the law.
Q: What is child abuse?
A: Child abuse is any form of physical harm, emotional deprivation, neglect, or sexual maltreatment which can result in injury or psychological damage to a child. A child, according to Ontario law, is someone under 16 years of age \ or up to 18 years of age if he or she is the subject of an order under the Child and Family Services Act.
Q: How widespread is the problem?
A: It's impossible to say because we have statistics only for cases that are reported to the Ontario Child Abuse Register. The Register records only those cases reported by the Children's Aid Society, but does not keep statistics on all those cases which the Children's Aid Society's investigate. Very often it is known that a child has been abused but it may be difficult to determine exactly who perpetrated the abuse or how it happened.
Using information from the Societies and from various research studies we can estimate that approximately 10% of Ontario's children are likely victims of some type of abuse sometime during their growing years.
Q: Is child abuse increasing?
A: Although more cases are being investigated and reported this may be the result of more people recognizing suspected abuse and reporting it rather than an actual increase in cases.
Q: Is child abuse usually a one-time happening?
A: Physical child abuse may be, if a normally patient caregiver is pushed beyond self-control by special circumstance or crisis. Unfortunately, most child abuse reflects a pattern of behaviour, and is usually repeated until it is detected and stopped.
Q: Are sexual offenders usually strangers?
A: No. Up to 80 per cent of sexual abuse victims know their abuser, who is often a member of the family or a trusted friend.
Q: Who are more likely victims of abuse? Girls or boys?
A:In physical abuse, boys are more likely to be abused, at least until adolescence. In sexual abuse, more than twice as many girls as boys are abused.
Q: Do children lie about sexual abuse?
A: Rarely. There have been cases where children have lied, or have been prompted by an adult to lie. However, false denials of sexual abuse are much more common that false reports. More common as well, is a child's retraction of sexual abuse. This is called "recantation" and is usually a symptom that the child has been under pressure to deny the abuse because of the impact on the family.
Q: What should I do if I suspect a child is being abused?
A: Report your suspicions to your nearest children's aid society. Under the provisions of the Child and Family Services Act, you are legally required to report if you believe that a child is being or may have been abused.
Q: Will I have to give my name?
A: Not necessarily. You may report suspected child abuse and remain anonymous. However, your information is much more valuable if you can co-operate fully with children's aid workers and/or police and help them determine if abuse has occurred.
Each of us has a moral responsibility to be alert to, and prepared to report, suspicions of child abuse.
Q: Is it true that a person can be fined or sent to jail for not reporting child abuse?
A: The Child and Family Services Act recognizes that each of us has a responsibility for the welfare of children. However, the Act place special reporting responsibilities on professionals who work involves children. Such a person (e.g. a physician, nurse, dentist, teacher, social worker or family counsellor - anyone who works with children) who fails to report suspected abuse is liable, on conviction, to a fine of up to $1,000. Though there is no such penalty for members of the general public, each of us has a moral responsibility to be alert to, and prepared to report, suspicions of child abuse.
Q: Are most abused children removed from their homes?
A: Not necessarily. Most are treated within their own homes or returned as soon as the situation is made safe. Sometimes the abuser leaves voluntarily or is ordered to leave the home thus allowing the child to stay. Safety of the child is the paramount consideration in making a decision.