Anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected is required to report it to their local Children's Aid Society
as set out in the Child and Family Services Act.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect report the information to your local Children's Aid Society immediately. In Simcoe County call 1-800-461-4236 toll free.
If a child tells you her or she has been abused, listen to the child, write down the facts after the conversation and report it to authorities yourself immediately.
Those working with children in a professional capacity have a special legal obligation to report abuse or suspected abuse as follows:
Professional persons and officials have the same duty as the public to report to a CAS. The Child and Family Services
Act recognizes that persons working closely with children have a special awareness of the signs of child abuse and neglect, and a particular responsibility to report their suspicions and makes it an offence to fail to report.
Any professional or official who fails to report a suspicion that a child is or may be in need of protection, where
the information on which that suspicion is based was obtained in the course of his or her professional or official duties, is liable, on conviction, to a fine of up to $1,000.
Protection from Liability
If a civil action is brought against a person who made a report, that person will be protected unless he or she acted maliciously or without reasonable grounds for his or her suspicion.
Protecting children is everyone's responsibility.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect report the information to your local Children's Aid Society immediately. In Simcoe County call 1-800-461-4236 toll free - 24 hours a day.
