Your Legal Duty to Report Child Abuse
- Lisa Haeck
- Oct 1, 2015
- 3 min read
According to the Law in British Columbia, and everywhere else in Canada, Anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected has a legal duty under the Child, Family and Community Service Act to report the matter.
If you make a false report, it is a crime.
Reporting Child Abuse
Helpline Number
Call the Helpline for Children when you have a concern about the safety and well-being of a child at 310-1234. This is a toll free number. It is a local telephone number anywhere in the province.
Duty to report abuse or suspected abuse
Anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected has a legal duty under the Child, Family and Community Service Act to report the matter.
How to report
Report to a child protection social worker in either a Ministry of Children and Family Development office, or a First Nations child welfare agency that provides child protection services.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call your MCFD Local Service Area office. You will find a list of offices here: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/sda/contacts.htm. *If you need assistance locating any MCFD office, you can call the Client Relations Branch at 250 387-7027, or toll free at 1 877 387-7027.*
Monday to Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and on statutory holidays, call the Helpline for Children. Dial 310-1234 (no area code needed).
After Hours Line
For emergencies outside office hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday).
Vancouver, North Shore Richmond, call 604 660-4927
Lower Mainland, Burnaby, Delta, Maple Ridge, Langley, call 604 660-8180
For the rest of the province, call toll-free 1 800 663-9122
Foster Families' Support Line - After Hours call 1 888 495-4440
4:00 p.m. - 12:45 a.m., Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:45 a.m. statutory holidays and weekends
If you have a concern relating to a child in your care during regular office hours, please contact the child's social worker or your own support worker.
What to report
You need not have details or proof prior to calling. But you will be asked for as much information about the concern as you can provide. This will include;
Your name and phone number (although you may call anonymously if you prefer)
Relationship to child
Any immediate concerns about the child's safety
The location of the child
The child's age
Information on the situation including all physical and behavioural indicators observed
Information about the family, parents and alleged offenders
The nature of the child's disabilities, if any
The name of a key support person
Other child(ren) who may be affected
Information about other persons or agencies closely involved with the child and/or family
Any other relevant information concerning the child and/or family such as language and culture
After you report
The child protection social worker will:
Determine if the child needs protection
Contact the police if a criminal investigation is required
Coordinate a response with other agencies, if necessary
If a child is in immediate danger, police should be called to intervene and a child protection social worker should be contacted to determine whether the child is in need of protection.
If a child protection social worker fails to assist a child who is being abused, let us know about it.
If you, as a parent, grandparent, guardian or concerned citizen made a report and were dismissed or labeled in any way, let us know about it.
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