NCJ Number
75609
Date Published
1977
Length
51 pages
Annotation
Canadian child abuse reporting laws are discussed, the operation of child abuse registers are considered, and a proposed task force of voluntary organizations concerned with child abuse and neglect is described.
Abstract
Canadian child abuse laws and reporting registers raise as many questions as they answer. It is not always clear who is reporting to whom, what is being reported, or what is being recorded. Also, requirements and methods vary from Province to Province; however, all Provinces are attempting to identify the number of occurring child abuse cases, although the data being developed is not reliable. A permanent task force consisting of representatives from national voluntary organizations should be created as a vehicle for the more systematic monitoring of services to abused and neglected children and children at risk of abuse and neglect. The task force would attempt to reach agreement on promotional activities which members might endorse their own policies, would act as an umbrella group for a network of member organizations, would serve as a national social policies watchdog, and would serve as an ongoing vehicle for expressing concerns about child abuse and neglect and child welfare in general. Canadian House of Commons recommendations are listed and tabular data are provided. Appendixes include a discussion of a House of Commons report on child abuse, statistical documentation from child abuse registers, and legislative provisions and documentation relating to each province.