|
Child abuse and neglect includes physically or
emotionally hurting a child, sexually molesting
a child, failing to provide proper care for a
child, and depriving a child of support, medical
care and affection.
Ontario's Child and Family Services Act states
that a child is in need of protection in the following
circumstances:
- a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering
physical harm, inflicted by a caregiver or caused
by the caregiver's failure to adequately care
for the child
- there is a pattern of neglect in supervising
a child
- a child has been sexually molested by a caregiver
or by another person where the caregiver knows
or should know of the possibility of sexual
molestation and fails to protect the child
- a child requires medical treatment and the
caregiver does not provide the treatment
- a child has suffered emotional harm resulting
from the actions of the caregiver
- a child suffers from a mental, emotional
or developmental condition and the caregiver
does not provide or is unable to consent to
treatment
- a child has been abandoned
- a child's parent has died or is unable to
care for the child and has not made adequate
provision for the child's care
- a child is in a residential placement and
the parent refuses or is unable or unwilling
to resume the child's care and custody
- a child, who is less than twelve years old,
seriously injures another person or causes serious
damage to another person's property, and treatment
is necessary and the caregiver does not provide
or is unable to consent to treatment.
We don't know all the causes of child abuse and
neglect. We do know that parenting is a big responsibility
that at times, when combined with other life stresses,
can become too much.
Parenting can become overwhelming when parents
have little support from family or friends, when
parents are very young and are not prepared for
the responsibility, or when they do not know what
to do when their child misbehaves.
The most important job we ever have is that of
parenting. But few people are taught how to be
a good parent.
Often the experiences we had as children and
the techniques used to raise us are the tools
we use when parenting our own children. Some abusive
adults were themselves mistreated as children.
Common life stresses, such as a major illness
or financial problems, may also provide the impetus
for an abusive situation, if combined with a lack
of knowledge of parenting, child development or
child behaviour management.
A substance abuse problem further impairs the
ability to be a good parent.
[ top ]
|
