Protecting children FAQ

10 Answers Every Child Welfare Agency Should Provide

What do I do if a child tells me about abuse?

Sometimes a child who is being abused will tell an adult. If this happens to you:

Stay calm.
Listen to the child.
Let the child know you believe him or her.
Reassure the child.
Tell the child it is not his or her fault.
Do not promise to keep it a secret.
Do not say everything will be fine - it may take a while before it is.
Contact the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

If I have concerns about a child, who should I contact?

You can contact The Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. We accept calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A trained Child Protection Worker will take information from you and determine how best to respond to your concerns. For more information, see our section Reporting your concerns.

When should I contact the Children’s Aid Society of SDG?

If you have been abused or neglected or are afraid.
If you find the pressures of family life hard to live with and you are afraid you may take it out on your children.
If illness, death, separation, drugs and/or alcohol are causing a family breakdown.
If you need help regarding a pregnancy.
If you are a teenager experiencing serious conflict in your family.
If you are aware of a child or youth under the age of 16 who may be abused or neglected or at risk of being abused or neglected

For more information, see our section on Understanding abuse and neglect.

Can I make a referral to the Children’s Aid Society of SDG anonymously?

Yes, you can. All contacts with the agency are taken seriously, regardless of whether you provide your name or not. Providing your name, however, allows for the Child Protection Worker assessing the matter to be able to contact you, if needed, in order to clarify information. You should know that you can consult with a Child Protection Worker about a family you are concerned about to determine whether a report should be made. For more information, see our section What happens when you call.

Can I call the Children’s Aid Society of SDG myself to make a referral on my own family?

We are here to help, so we encourage you and all families to self-refer if you are in need of help and support. The Children’s Aid Society of SDG does not become involved in every situation that we receive information on. We often suggest other services in the community that would be more appropriate in assisting you. For more information, see our section Reporting your concerns.

How old does a child need to be before they can be left unsupervised?

Contrary to popular perception, there is no specific age at which a child can be left unattended. The Child and Family Services Act states that parents of children under the age of 16 years, must make reasonable provisions for their care. This requires parents to ensure that if they leave their children at home alone, that they have made appropriate efforts to ensure their children’s safety. This requires a common sense approach, for instance, ensuring youth have emergency phone numbers, are mature and responsible, and are not left for long periods of time without adult supervision. For more information, see our section on Understanding abuse and neglect.

Is it legal to spank your child?

Although the Criminal Code of Canada allows parents to use reasonable force to punish their children, the Children’s Aid Society of SDG does not condone physical forms of punishment. It is the position of this agency that other forms of discipline are more successful and less harmful in managing children and youth’s behaviour. The Society does respond to situations where physical punishment in an inappropriate or excessive manner has been reported. This type of punishment could lead to a child being injured and, consequently, criminal charges could be laid by the police against the caregiver. For more information, see our section on Understanding abuse and neglect.

At what age is it appropriate for children of the same or opposite sex to share bedrooms?

Young children sharing the same room is often a necessity for many families. However, once children reach the age of six or seven, they naturally become conscious about their bodies and differences between the sexes. As children mature and begin to reach puberty, there is a need for privacy. Sharing a room with a sibling of the opposite sex can make a school aged child embarrassed and uncomfortable. Different sleeping arrangements should be made as the children age.

Does the Children’s Aid Society of SDG supervise access visits?

The Society does supervise access visits, but only with families that are currently receiving services, and only if the children are deemed unsafe in the care of their caregivers. Other supervised access visits can be arranged either through the York Centre in Cornwall or by using relatives or members of the community.

What services can be offered to children 16 years and older?

The Child and Family Services Act permits the Children’s Aid Society to be involved with children only before their sixteenth birthday unless they are in the care of the Society. To help obtain services for youth over sixteen years of age, consult community services such as Single Point Access.

Does the Children’s Aid Society of SDG become involved in issues related to custody and access?

The Children’s Aid Society of SDG does not become involved in issues of custody and access unless it affects the child or youth’s physical safety or emotional well-being. When this is not the case, we recommend that legal advice be sought on these issues.

If I am unhappy with the service I have received from the Children’s Aid Society of SDG, what do I do?

We encourage you to try to resolve the issues with your assigned Child Protection Worker and his or her supervisor. If you continue to be dissatisfied at any point in this process, you may File a formal complaint.