The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services:

All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Have a Duty to Report

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to emphasize the important role that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians play in the lives of our children and youth.

All children and youth have the right to feel protected and secure each and every day. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Children and Youth Care and Protection Act is the law which gives the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services the ability to intervene to protect children and youth when there is a report of child or youth maltreatment. In particular, Section 11 of this Act outlines the public’s legal responsibility to report information that a child or youth is or may be in need of protective intervention.

We all have a duty to report and this standard is the same for both professionals and the general public. Under the duty to report, individuals must immediately report any information that they believe may cause a child or youth to be in need of protection. It is the law that information regarding child or youth maltreatment must be reported to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services or the police.

When a referral is received by the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, a social worker will immediately assess this information to determine if a protection investigation is required. If concerns require follow-up by the department, then a social worker will conduct this investigation in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the child or youth.

All referral sources are kept confidential except when the source is ordered to be released by a court. Therefore, any person who makes a report of child or youth maltreatment is legally protected unless it is done without a reasonable cause or with malicious intent. It is important for the public to know that it is an offence to withhold any information regarding a child or youth who is or may be at risk of maltreatment.

I encourage all members of this Honourable House and all residents of our province to uphold their duty to report child or youth maltreatment and call your local Child, Youth and Family Services office or contact your local police.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2013 11 18             1:50 p.m.