Helping Caregivers
Raven’s Nest is here for you and your child to help connect you to information, resources and support to get you through this very confusing and difficult time.
Click Here for more on the CYAC model and how it can help you and your family.
What is abuse?
Child abuse can take many forms. Being aware of the different types of abuse can lead to a better awareness, reporting and prevention.
Physical Abuse
Any physical force or action that results, or could result, in an injury to a child.
Sexual Abuse
The use of a child for sexual gratification. This includes sexual touching, as well as non-touching, such as making a child watch sexual acts.
Emotional Abuse
A pattern of destructive behaviour or verbal attacks by an adult or a child. It can include rejecting, terrorizing, ignoring, isolating, exploiting or corrupting a child.
Neglect
Failure to provide for a child’s basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, supervision or medical care.
Warning Signs
– Unexplained bruises: Face, lower back, thighs, buttocks, breasts
-Unexplained fractures
-Constant complaints of sore throat or stomach aches
-Lack of proper hygiene
-Sudden onset of nightmares, bed wetting and/or fear of the dark
-Sudden change in attitude towards someone or in general
-Expressing sexual knowledge not typical to their age- language or play
Duty to Report
If you think a child or youth is being abused or neglected, you have the legal duty to report it-
Phone 1 800 663-9122 any time of the day or night. When making a report, it is helpful to
include your name, your phone number and your relationship to the child or youth. In turn, here
are some things the child welfare worker may want to know:
– The child’s name and location
– If there are any immediate safety concerns for the child
-Why you believe the child may be at risk
-Any statements or information the child told you
-Information about people in the child’s life
-Any other relevant information
Disclosures
Resources
