Our Mission
Open your Heart and Home
Concerned about a child or youth?
Most parents and caregivers don’t intend to neglect their children. Instead, neglect is usually the result of a lack of experience about parenting and an inability to plan ahead. When a caregiver fails to provide a child’s basic needs like food, sleep, safety, supervision, appropriate clothing or medical treatment on a consistent basis – that’s neglect.
Physical abuse is when a child is injured or harmed by his or her caregiver, or when the caregiver fails to do something to protect the child. Injuries include bruises, cuts, burns, and fractures. Children who are physically abused often can’t remember how injuries happened or they offer inconsistent stories when questioned. They might be wary of adults and extremely aggressive or extremely withdrawn. More signs and indicators of physical abuse:
Emotional abuse happens when a caregiver treats a child in an extremely negative way that damages self esteem and the concept of “self.” This type of behaviour might include constant yelling, demeaning remarks, rejection or isolation or exposing a child to domestic violence.
Everyone, not just professionals, who has reasonable grounds to suspect a child is or may be in need of protection, has a duty to report directly to a children’s aid society. Referrals may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact us at 519-631-1492 or 1-800-260-6960.
Every day, FACS receives many calls from the community.
When a reported concern is serious enough to warrant an investigation, a child protection worker will meet with the family to assess the child’s safety and the situation.
If the matter is a case of sexual abuse, serious physical abuse or neglect, police will be consulted prior to the investigation. In such cases, the worker and a police officer will jointly investigate the situation. The police will investigate the situation to determine if a criminal act occurred, while our agency’s primary focus and responsibility is the safety and well-being of the child and/or other children in the home
In the course of the assessment, the worker may also speak to other family members, doctors, teachers, other children in the family, etc.
If the assessment shows that the problem is serious and the family needs help, the agency will support them through a variety of programs, tools and services. The goal is to help parents become more effective caregivers and, therefore, realize positive outcomes for their children or youth.
Not all referrals to FACS will result in a child protection investigation. Some issues are better addressed through other community resources. We can help you find the services that may help.
Please visit our Supporting Families page for links to services and supports
