Each of us has a responsibility to protect children and youth from harm.

Under section 72 of the Child and Family Services Act, every person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is or may be in need of protection must promptly report the suspicion and the information upon which it is based to a Children’s Aid Society.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to be certain that a child is or may be in need of protection to make a report to a Children’s Aid Society. Far from it. If you have seen or heard something that has you concerned about the safety or well-being of a child, you owe it to them to make a call.

Despite that, many people find themselves hesitating to report concerns, or not knowing how to do so. Initiatives are underway to engage various communities and strengthen their relationship with The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO), in order to increase that awareness and build that trust.

“We are trying to strengthen relationships across the city,” Koubinaka, a CASO staff member, explains. “To learn from various communities, to understand different cultures.”

“The population in Ottawa is a diverse population; everybody has a different background,” she goes on. “So the more we can engage each other’s communities, the stronger our relationship will be, and the more likely community members will be to report concerns.”

Take it from Lydia, who recently made a call to CASO about a group of young siblings that lives in her neighbourhood.

“My first concern was that my call would result in the kids being taken away from their parents, which was the furthest thing from what I wanted,” she explained. “I could just tell that they needed a little extra help.”

“I also didn’t want the family to think that I was getting involved in their personal life. I see them often at community events, so I didn’t want to affect that relationship.”

Upon discovering that her phone call would be completely anonymous, Mary began to realize that she could make a difference in this family’s life without being personally identified.

“It wasn’t long after that that I decided to make the call,” she says. “And I’m so glad I did.”

It’s important to recognize that in more than 90 per cent of cases in which CASO becomes involved; work is done within the family while the child remains at home. The vast majority of interventions simply involve connecting the family to appropriate services within the community.

While the result of Mary’s phone call is not known to her, the children she was concerned for are still living at home, playing in her neighborhood. This puts her mind at ease: Whether or not an intervention took place, she knows that the children are being looked out for.

“To be honest, the outcome was exactly what I had hoped for. I’m not sure if the family needed help, but if they did, I know the workers at CASO were the people who could provide it.”

“We know that it’s difficult to report any concerns or suspicions about a child,” says Barbara MacKinnon, Executive Director of CASO. “But when you do, it makes it that much easier for us to help the families in need of our assistance.”

If you are concerned about child, please break the silence. Speak Up for Kids and call The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa at (613) 747-7800. You could be helping out a child in need.