What Is Child Abuse?

Child abuse or neglect is the harm, threat to harm or potential harm of a child. The main areas of abuse are:

Child abuse or neglect is the harm, threat to harm or potential harm of a child. The main areas of abuse are:

  • physical
  • sexual
  • neglect
  • emotional
  • exposure to intimate partner violence

Child abuse/neglect can look like: bruises or injuries, not dressed appropriately for weather conditions, missing meals.

Child abuse/neglect can sound like: reports of seeing violence in the home, reports of someone touching private bodily areas, reports of being left unsupervised for longer than safe for their age, and/or without access to basic necessities.

Child abuse/neglect can feel like: being invisible, not being loveable, not being important

 

What to do if I suspect Child Abuse?

If you have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is in need of help, you need to make the call. It isn’t up to you to prove or investigate the abuse but it is up to you to reach out and help protect the child.

Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound
433 McIntyre Street West, North Bay, ON P1B 2Z3
Bus: 705-472-0910 | Toll free: 877-303-0910

What to do if you are a child experiencing abuse?

If you’re living with abuse, it’s important to know that you’re not alone — help is available.

  1. Know that it is not your fault
  2. Talk to someone
  3. Create a safety plan
  4. Connect with people who make you feel safe
  5. Call the police or the Children’s Aid Society
  6. Take care of yourself

kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/dealing-family-abuse-how-get-help-and-stay-safe

Duty to Report:

In Ontario, it is the law to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

Under section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act every person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is or may be in need of protection must promptly report the suspicion and the information upon which it is based to a Children’s Aid Society

oacas.org/childrens-aid-child-protection/duty-to-report/
children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/reportingabuse/index.aspx
ontario.ca/laws/statute/17c14

Duty to Report and Education: