Keeping children and youth safe is everyone’s responsibility.- What is duty to report?
- What is child abuse and neglect?
- What should I do if a child or youth tells me about abuse and/or neglect?
- How do you report suspected abuse and/or neglect?
- What can I expect when I make a report?
- Will I find out what happens after I make my report?
- How does the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development respond to a report of abuse and/or neglect of a child or youth?
What is duty to report?
In Newfoundland and Labrador, it is the law that every person immediately report suspected abuse and/or neglect for children (under age 16) and youth (ages 16 and 17).
It takes a community to raise a child. Your call can lead to children, youth and families getting the help they may need.
What is child abuse and neglect?
Physical Abuse: A child/youth has been or is likely to be injured due to a parent’s action, or a parent’s lack of action to protect the child from someone else. Examples may include shaking or kicking a child/youth, giving the child a toxic substance, unexplained injury, etc.
Emotional Abuse: A child/youth has been or is likely to be emotionally harmed due to a parent’s action, or a parent’s lack of action to protect the child from someone else. Examples may include withholding love and affection, name calling/degrading the child/youth, exposing a child/youth to violence, etc.
Sexual Abuse: A child/youth has been or is likely to be sexually harmed by a parent, or by someone else and the parent does not protect the child/youth. This would include any sexual contact or action that occurs by force, intimidation, and/or deception, regardless if the child/youth understands the abusive nature of the sexual act. Examples may include sexual touching, sexual acts, exposure to pornographic materials, photographing a child for sexual purposes, etc.
Neglect: A child/youth has been or is likely to be harmed due to a parent’s lack of action in caring for a child/youth and meeting their basic needs. Examples may include hunger/sickness due to lack of food, illness/injury due to poor hygiene or lack of medical treatment, ingesting harmful substance due to lack of supervision, etc.
What should I do if a child or youth tells me about abuse and/or neglect?
- Stay calm and listen carefully.
- Let the child/youth tell you what happened in their own words. Use statements such as “tell me more” and “what happened next?”
- Help them feel comforted and supported by saying things like:
- You did the right thing by telling someone
- I believe you and I will support you
- What happened is not your fault
- It’s okay to feel scared, angry and hurt
- I will try to help you figure out what happens next
Following this conversation, write down the details and immediately report to the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development or call 911/local police if you believe the child is in immediate danger.
How do you report suspected abuse and/or neglect?
To report a concern of suspected child abuse and/or neglect of a child (under age 16) and/or a youth (ages 16 & 17), call toll-free 1-833-552-2368.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police.
What can I expect when I make a report?
If you are worried about a child or youth, please call us. You may not feel like you have a lot of information or you may not be sure it is abuse and/or neglect, but that’s okay. It is our job to listen to your concerns and determine what to do next.
When making a report, we will ask for your name, your relationship to the child or youth, and your phone number so we are able to call you back for more information if needed.
Your information remains confidential and can only be released if ordered to do so by the court. You also have the option to report anonymously.
Some examples of questions you may be asked:
- What are your worries about the child or youth’s safety?
- Did you see or hear something that made you worry?
- What is the child or youth’s name, age and current location?
- What do you know about the family and the alleged abuser (if known)?
Will I find out what happens after I make my report?
We take each call very seriously. While we understand that you care and may be worried about the child/youth, we are not able to share information on any involvement we may have with the family to protect their privacy.
How does the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development respond to a report of abuse and/or neglect of a child or youth?
Under the law, the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development will respond differently to a report of abuse against a child (under age 16) versus a youth (ages 16 and 17).
When a report is made on a child, a social worker will assess the information to determine the need for an investigation. An investigation involves many steps to obtain all the information needed to keep the child safe and to support the child and their family.
When a report is made on a youth, a social worker will contact the youth to discuss the information. The youth must agree to participate in an assessment of the concerns, as well as the plan to support them and keep them safe.