What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse is any act of maltreatment of a child by a parent or guardian that results in injury or harm. The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act defines the four main types of abuse as:
These pages will give you information about each type of abuse and possible signs to be concerned about. Each situation and family is different so, while some of the signs might point to abuse, they might also mean that the family is facing other problems which may contribute to child abuse such as:
- a lack of parenting skills
- immature parents
- parents with negative childhood experiences
social isolation - alcohol and/or drug use in the home
- manufacture of drugs, indoor marijuana grow operations, drug trafficking, or other forms of illegal drug activity in the home
- family violence in the home
- frequent family crisis
- unrealistic expectations of a child’s behaviour and capacities
Call 310-0000 to obtain the telephone number of your local office or call the Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437 to report a concern.
