What is an emergency?

O Police are on the scene or on the way.
O You are at risk of being arrested/incarcerated.
O You are facing criminal charges for an alleged criminal offence that arises directly from your 

employment responsibilities.

CHILD ABUSE

All members of ETFO have a statutory obligation under the Child and Family Services Act to personally 
report to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) when «a child is or may be in need of protection.” Such a need 
may arise as a result of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect. The failure of a member to report 
suspected child abuse or a pattern of neglect could result in charges under the Act with a fine, upon 
conviction, of up to $1,000.

It should be noted that, in addition to charges under the Act, a member may face the possibility of legal 
action for failure to report suspected abuse or pattern of neglect situations.

The Statutory Obligation to Report Suspected Child Abuse

1. 

Applies to every person who performs professional or official duties with respect to a child, 
including teachers, principals, supervisory officers, and members of the support staff.

2. Arises if there are “reasonable” grounds to suspect a pattern of neglect or abuse or the risk of 

neglect or abuse regardless of whether one believes the information.

3. Requires a report to be made directly to the local CAS, not through the principal or vice-principal.

4. Protects the informant from future liability.

PARENT CONCERNS

Parent concerns must be acknowledged and addressed at the school level. If parents believe they have 
been ignored they may take further action, which could escalate the situation.

If you are made aware of a parent complaint other than an allegation of assault or abuse, you should 
contact the parent directly or arrange for you, the parent, and the principal to meet to discuss the 
problem.

Depending on the seriousness of the situation, the principal may wish to facilitate the discussion between 
you and the parent. Every effort should be made to reach an

understanding and a positive outcome for all concerned – parent, member, and principal.

Every situation will need careful consideration of what is the most appropriate way of  dealing with 
the complaint. ETFO staff in professional relations can assist you with strategies and resources for 
responding to parent concerns. The ETFO resource entitled Parent-Teacher Relationships: Putting the 
Pieces Together addresses a variety of issues including establishing positive relationships with parents, 
conflict management, parent harassment, and more. This resource is available for purchase through 
shopETFO.

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