How to report a situation

If you make a report, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Your name and contact information to identify you as the reporter (person reporting a situation to the DYP). Your identity will remain confidential, it can only be disclosed with your consent
• Any information you can provide to help identify the child
• What you know about the child’s situation that causes you to believe that their security or development is or may be in danger

Your cooperation is very important. To help you be clear about the information you will be giving the DYP, you can use the checklist for reporting a situation to the DYP.

This checklist is a tool to help you through the reporting process. You can use it to provide as much detailed information as possible when you contact the DYP.

The questions on the checklist are provided for information purposes only. You can report a situation even if you are not able to answer all the questions.

Information about the child

• What is the child’s name?
• What is their date of birth or how old are they?
• What is their address?
• What is their telephone number?
• What are their parents’ names?
• Whom does the child live with?
• What school or daycare does the child go to?
• Are there other children affected by the situation? If so, what are their first and last names and dates of birth or ages?

Facts

• What has the child said or confided in you that makes you concerned?
• What actions or attitudes of the child, their parents or another person that make you concerned?
• Have you noticed any injuries or marks on the child’s body?
• Have you made any observations in the child's living environment that concern you?

Nature of the facts

• Did the facts that you are reporting happen in the past or are they happening at the moment?
• Did these facts happen often or do they happen often?
• Have you witnessed these facts?
• Do you believe the child is in danger?

The child’s vulnerability factors

• What impact do you think these facts have on the child?
• Does the child have a physical or intellectual disability?
• What is the child’s reaction to the situation that you are reporting?
• Does the child have any personal characteristics (strengths or weaknesses) that you feel the DYP should know about?

The parents’ ability and willingness to address the situation

• Do the parents acknowledge that the situation is problematic?
• Do the parents have any personal characteristics (strengths or weaknesses) or problems that you feel the DYP should know about? For example, do they have an addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or mental health issues?
• Have the parents tried to seek help to address the situation?

Community resources that are already helping or could help the child or his parents

• Does the child know someone who can help them or their parents? For example, extended family, spouse of one of the parents, neighbour, friend, other persons.
• Are there resources that are already intervening with the child or their parents? For example, an integrated health and social services centre (CISSS) or integrated university health and social services centre (CIUSSS), daycare, school, community organizations or others.

Questions about situations of sexual or physical abuse only

• Do you know who may have committed the alleged or suspected abuse (parent, brother, sister, spouse of one of the parents, extended family member, another adult, another minor)?
• What is the suspected perpetrator’s name? How old are they?
• Does the child still have contact with this person?
• Have the police been notified?