Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If I have concerns about a child, who should I speak to?

Calls can be made to The Children's Aid Society of the County of Bruce 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff will take information from you and determine how best to respond to your concerns.

Q2: When should you contact us?

If you have been abused or neglected or are afraid
If you find the pressures of family life hard to live with and you are afraid you may take it out on your children
If illness, death, separation, drugs or alcohol are causing family breakdown
If you need help regarding a pregnancy
If you are a teenager experiencing serious conflict in your family
If you are aware of a child or youth who may be abused or neglected

Q3: How old does a child have to be left unattended by an adult?

Contrary to most peoples' perception, there is no specific age at which a child can be left unattended. The Child and Family Services Act states that parents of children under the age of 16 years, must make "reasonable provisions" for their care. This requires parents to ensure that if they leave their children at home alone, that they have made appropriate efforts to ensure their children's safety. This must go hand in hand with a common sense approach, for instance, ensuring children have emergency phone numbers, are mature and responsible and are not left for long periods of time without adult supervision.

Q4: At what age can a child babysit other children?

Again, this requires a common sense approach. Not all children are responsible enough by age 12 years, for instance, to babysit other children. It is important to know that there is no age specified by law for babysitting and it is a matter of the parent determining if a teenager is responsible enough to provide a safe environment for your child. Consideration should be given as to whether the babysitter has taken a certified babysitting course, has previous babysitting experience with positive references and appears to have a good rapport with your children. It is important that babysitters are not used for a considerable period of time. Remember, choosing a suitable babysitter is a very important decision.

Q5: My child is 16 years of age and tells me that he/she is leaving home. What can I do?

Legally, a child is entitled to reside where they choose when they turn 16 years of age, without interference from their parents. Although young adults sometimes move out and choose to reside in living situations that do not meet their parents approval, the best approach is to keep the lines of communication open as much as possible. For children under the age of 16 years, parents are responsible for providing for their children with respect to their basic needs and to file a Missing Persons Report if the child goes missing from the home.

Q6: I made a referral to CAS but I never heard anything back about what happened. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. Contact the agency and inquire as to the status of the investigation. If you made a referral to the CAS, your name should be on the computer system and you are entitled to know the outcome of the investigation or more specifically, if the case will be closing or remaining open for more further investigation. Specific details, however, of the investigation cannot be provided to you without consent of the parents for whom you made the referral.

Q7: Can I make a referral to the CAS anonymously?

Yes, all calls to the agency are taken seriously regardless of whether you provide your name or not. Providing your name, however, allows for the social worker investigating the matter to be able to clarify information with you and helps to verify the concerns. It is important to know that you can call CAS and consult a social worker with regards to a situation without identifying who the family is that you are concerned about.

Q8: Can I call the CAS myself to make a referral on my own family?

Absolutely. At any time, you can call the CAS and consult with a social worker with regards to difficulties that you are having in parenting your children. The CAS does not get involved in every situation that we receive information regarding and often suggests other services that would be more appropriate to assist you.

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