Are you or do you know a child or youth who may be being neglected or abused?
The Child and Youth Protection Program investigates and addresses abuse and neglect in children and youth aged 18 and under.
Abuse and neglect can take many forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. The well-being of a child or youth may be in danger in the following circumstances:
If the child or youth is being, or at substantial risk of being:
- Physically or sexually harmed;
- Sexually exploited or involved in prostitution or human trafficking;
- Exposed to or involved in the production of child pornography or has significant contact with a person who possesses child pornography;
- Neglected or ill-treated as a result of being in the care of a person who fails to:
- Provide adequate food, clothing, or shelter;
- Provide adequate affection or respond to the cues of the child or youth or the need for cognitive stimulation;
- Seek the appropriate medical, surgical, dental, mental health, remedial care or rehabilitative treatment for the child or youth or consent to the care or treatment;
- Neglected or ill-treated as a result of being in the care of a person who fails to ensure the child or youth attends school or follows an approved educational plan and who has failed to comply with subsection 15(6) of the Education Act;
- Neglected or ill-treated as a result of being in the care of a person who leaves the child or youth unsupervised or unattended for a period of time that is inconsistent with their age and maturity and no reasonable provision for the are and supervision of the child or youth is made;
- Psychologically or emotionally harmed.
If the child or youth:
- Is living in a situation where violence exists that is likely to result in physical or emotional harm to them;
- Living in an unfit, unsafe, or improper environment;
- Has been abandoned or the only parent of a child or youth had died or is unable or unwilling to exercise custody, care and supervision of the child or youth and has not made reasonable provision for the custody, care and supervision of the child or youth;
- Has suffered multiple incidents of harm or patterns of behaviour that result in harm;
- Is beyond the control of the parent or person having responsibility;
- Is likely to intentionally injure themselves or another person;
- Is in the care of a person who does not have the right to the custody, care and supervision of the child or youth;
- Has likely committed a criminal act (in the case of a child who is under 12 years of age); or
- If the parent of person having responsibility of the child or youth fails or is unable to protect the child or youth from harm.
In the case of a newborn:
- The newborn has a controlled substance in their body that was not prescribed to the mother or the newborn; or
- The newborn is likely to be exposed to a living situation with the potential for violence, neglect, physical harm, or emotional harm.
If you have reason to believe that the well-being of a child or youth is in danger, immediately call Social Development to make a referral. Anyone can call the Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to report a concern at 1-833-733-7835. Press 1 for English or 2 for French. Then press 1 to speak with a registered social worker who delivers Child and Youth Protection Services. You may also contact your local police or RCMP detachment.
All professionals in New Brunswick are mandated to report if they suspect that the well-being of a child or youth is in danger.
How the Program Works
Referral
The Child and Youth Protection Program starts with a referral from someone who suspects a child or youth is being abused or neglected. This may be a neighbour, caregiver, relative or even a bystander. The referral may also come from the alleged victim or a professional such as a teacher, doctor, or nurse.
Note: All referral sources are kept confidential unless the release of their identity is ordered by a judge.
Screening
Every allegation of abuse or neglect is immediately evaluated. The social worker who receives the referral will ask some questions, such as:
- What happened to cause you to make this referral today?
- What is your relationship to the person or people being reported?
- Do you know the situation first-hand or second-hand?
- What is the problem?
- What did you see or hear?
- What is the child or youth’s appearance (e.g. bruises, marks, clothing)?
- What are the details of the incident (e.g. time, date, witnesses, other professionals involved such as police, doctor)?
- Who are the significant people in this child or youth’s life?
- What are some strengths of the family?
If there is reason to believe that abuse or neglect may be occurring based on the information from the referral, a child/youth protection investigation is launched. Based on the referral, the intake social worker determines how quickly an investigating social worker will respond.
If the referral is screened out, the social worker will determine if community-based services, such as counselling, crisis resource centres, women’s shelters or homeless shelters, are appropriate.
Investigations
Every investigation of a Child and Youth Protection referral includes:
- Contacting the police when criminal activity is suspected
- Face-to-face contact with the child or youth alleged to be the victim of abuse or neglect
- Interviewing other children, youth, and caregivers
- Observing the entire home
- Promoting safe sleep practices for infants and young children
- Observing the interaction between the referred child, youth, and their parent/caregiver
- Interviewing witnesses and other sources and gathering evidence from other professionals involved with the child/youth and family
- Completing safety and risk assessments
Ongoing Services
If the investigation does not find that abuse or neglect is taking place, the investigation is closed. If it is determined that the child or youth needs protection, the case is forwarded to a Child and Youth Protection Social Worker who:
- Meets with the family and child(ren)/youth regularly according to the level of risk
- Completes a family strengths and needs assessment and risk reassessment
- Develops a case plan to address the Child Protection concerns and risks
- Arranges, coordinates and monitors contracted or community services, such as counselling, in-home supports, early childhood development, public health, etc.
- Offers and promotes collaborative approaches such as Immediate Response Conference, Family Group Conference and Child Protection Mediation. These are meetings where family are involved in decision-making about their children/youth.
- Initiates a court application when required
- Keeps service providers informed about relevant changes in the family
- Evaluates progress toward achieving goals and outcomes
