Question n°07

What should I do if I suspect child abuse?

Should I tell someone?

In most parts of Canada, the law says you must tell child protection authorities right away if you know or think that a child is being abused. If you are not sure whether to make a report, contact a local child protection service.

You can also turn to these services in your area:

• Child welfare agency
• Police department
• Hospital
• Distress centre
• Other community agencies that work with children and families. There are many that work with specific cultural groups as well.

Many of these organizations are listed with the emergency telephone numbers near the first page of your telephone directory.

Reporting is not hard, and it doesn’t take up a lot of time. You don’t have to give your name. In all cases, you will be protected against any legal action. The only exception would be if you made the report falsely.

Why don’t more people report child abuse?

People may not recognize its signs and symptoms. This is true of both professionals and non-professionals. Others may not understand that they do not need proof to make a report. They just need to have good reason to believe that abuse is happening or has happened.

Some people still believe that children are the property of their parents and that abuse in the family is a private matter. Also, caregivers often threaten children so they will not tell.

Several other factors make people hesitate to report abuse. For example, people may:

• Feel that it is shameful and should be kept secret.
• Deny that child abuse and neglect are harmful.
• Fear what will happen if authorities get involved.
• Not know how to go about reporting abuse or finding help.
• Believe that children lie about being abused.

Children almost never lie about being abused. Studies have found that this only happens less than 1-2% of the time.

What can I say to a child who tells me about abuse?

If you suspect or find out that a child has been abused, you may be unsure of what to do. You may feel overwhelmed, and be afraid of saying the wrong thing.

It is important to leave the investigation up to police and the child welfare agency.

However, there are some basic things you can do to help:

Reassure the child:

"I believe you."

"You are not alone."

"The abuse is not your fault."

"It's good that you told me. You did the right thing."

Explain what will happen next if possible:

"I have to share what you told me with some people. They can help you and your family."

Offer to stay with the child for support.

Children who want help can also call the Kids' Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.

We each have a responsibility to the children in our communities. We owe it to them to respect and respond to their needs. One way to do this is to educate yourself about the different forms of abuse.

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This question was prepared for the Canadian Health Network by Education Wife Assault and the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence.
Created: April 1999