The Children's Aid Society is obligated to investigate reported situations in which a child or youth may be in need of protection, situations where a person has reasonable grounds to suspect that the actions, or lack of actions, of a
parent or caregiver caused harm or created a risk of harm to a child or youth under sixteen years of age.
If you call to report suspected child abuse or neglect, or to request assistance, you will initially speak to an Intake
Worker or an After Hours Duty Worker. Based on the information gathered by these professionals, a number of
different things may happen:
• referral to another department in the agency
• referral to another community resource or agency
• police will be contacted in cases of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse. In such cases the worker and
a police officer will jointly investigate the situation. Police will determine whether a criminal act has occurred.
At all times the primary focus and responsibility is the safety and well-being of the child. We will work first and
foremost to keep families together but when this is not possible then we will provide quality alternative care for
the child or children involved in an abuse situation.
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.
