NCJ Number
186921
Date Published
2001
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides an overview of the nature and prevalence of child abuse in Canada and the response to it.
Abstract
A demographic profile of Canada, including the infant mortality rate and life expectancy, is followed by a brief case study of a failure to diagnose child abuse by medical personnel. A review of the history of child abuse awareness and responses in Canada is followed by a section on legal definitions pertinent to child abuse and an overview of data on child abuse in that country. Other sections of the chapter discuss investigative procedures, treatment services, child protection protocols, legal innovations pertinent to child abuse detection and intervention, and child-abuse prevention efforts. One of the most significant developments in the child welfare field in Canada in the mid-1990's has been the public focus on child-abuse-and-neglect deaths, particularly in situations in which the children were known to agencies but were not removed from parental care. Although there is no clear evidence that the child welfare system is providing less protection than in the past, the public and politicians are now demanding improved measures for reducing child abuse and neglect. There has also been greater media coverage on the need to prevent child abuse. The Federal Government has mounted efforts to increase awareness about child maltreatment that may assist in the development of programs and policies. Health Canada is funding research to better assess outcomes for children taken into care by child welfare agencies. 50 references