What Every Person Should Know about the Child and Family Services Act

Here is a summary of some of the recent amendments made to the laws governing Ontario's Children's Aid Societies. Changes will affect CAS workers, children and their families and members of the general public:

Better Protection for Children

The changes, which were passed by the Ontario Legislature in March of this year, will enable a Children's Aid Society to become involved in more cases:

  • where there is a risk that the child is likely to be harmed physically, sexually or emotionally;
  • to protect children who have been harmed emotionally;
  • where there is a pattern of neglect

The new law will:

  • allow a CAS to apply for a warrant or a court order to get records or reports from other people, if it needs those reports or records to protect children at risk.
  • make it easier for a CAS to get a temporary court order to protect a child until a full court hearing can take place.

Duty To Report

Every person must report to a CAS when they have "reasonable grounds to suspect" that a child is in need of protection.

You must call the CAS immediately if any of the following are true:

  • You suspect that a child has suffered physical or sexual harm as a result of a caregiver's actions.
  • You suspect that a child has been harmed because a caregiver failed to provide adequate care, supervision or protection.
  • You suspect that a child has been abandoned by a caregiver--willfully or unintentionally.
  • You suspect that a child has been harmed emotionally because of a caregiver's specific behavior, a pattern of neglect or the failure of a caregiver to take care of the child's emotional needs.
  • You suspect that a child is at risk or likely to suffer physical, sexual or emotional harm.
  • You suspect that a caregiver is unable to protect a child.
  • You suspect that a caregiver has a problem that interferes with his or her ability to parent. Problems might include drug or alcohol abuse or mental illness.
  • You suspect that a caregiver lacks adequate parenting skills.
  • A child under 12 years of age commits a serious act such as hurting another person or an animal.
  • A child under 12 years of age causes serious damage to property.

An individual must report any additional information, even if that person has reported previous concerns about the same child or family. A detailed pamphlet on reporting child abuse and neglect has been developed and is available from any CAS office or on the internet.

For more information about Ontario's child protection laws and your Duty to Report, Contact Us.