Statistics have been used to support our position at various places of our web site. For the ease of reference, statistics related to the "child protection" industry are summarized below. Please click the purple headings to view details and the blue links to view the context where these statistics are used in our web site.
The following briefly summarizes how protection reports fit into the child welfare system.
Intake
Intake is the first decision point in child welfare case management. It is the process of receiving, gathering and assessing information in order to determine the appropriate response under the CF&CS Act. Intakes can either be protection reports regarding child maltreatment or requests for family and youth services.
Protection Reports
Protection reports are calls the ministry receives from the public about children possibly at risk. Calls are assessed by ministry staff against child safety criteria and then staff choose a response that fits the child’s assessed need. Possible responses to a child protection report include initiating an investigation, initiating a family development response (it is less invasive and more collaborative than a traditional investigation), or deciding not to pursue an investigation. At a minimum, the protection report remains open until the completion of the investigation or family development response.
Investigation
An investigation is opened when the social worker is concerned that a child’s safety or health may be in immediate danger or the child may be vulnerable to serious harm because of age or developmental level. An investigation is closed when the social worker determines whether or not the child is in need of protection. The majority of investigations are initiated from protection reports; however, there are cases when a child protection investigation is the appropriate response to request for family support services or youth services or to a family development response.
Family Development Response (FDR)
This response to a child protection report occurs when an assessment identifies that the risk of harm can be managed through the provision of intensive, time-limited support services. It includes a strengths-based assessment of the family’s capacity to safely care for a child, and provision of support services.
Requests for Family and Youth Services
A family can approach the ministry and receive information about and referrals to support services (e.g., Big Brothers, counselling), and when required, arrange for support services through written, goal-oriented agreements. A request for youth services is like a request for family services, except it pertains to one young person in the family. It involves screening, assessment, short-term planning and utilization of youth support services, such as youth-family mediation, mentorship, safe housing and outreach services.
Data on open protection reports by duration from May 1998 to May 2010.
Behavioral: 41.2% of children (age 12-17) in care appear in youth court versus 6.4% of general population, Source: Table 1 of Kids, Crime and Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes Joint Special Report published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 23 February 2009 (be mindful that children under age 12 are not chargeable of any criminal offence per Criminal Code in Canada)
Suicidal Tendency: children in care are nearly three times more likely to consider suicide – and nearly six times more likely to have attempted suicide at least once – than youth who have never been in care, Source: Growing Up In B.C. published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 18 October 2010
Aboriginal children and children in care are less likely to experience
success in school.
Children in care are more likely to engage in risky behaviour, such as
using tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
Children in care are more likely to have gone to bed hungry.
Youth in care consistently talked about the challenges they face in everyday life, such as creating and maintaining long-term relationships, having no-one to see them graduate, not having adult support or financial means to encourage them to do well in school or apply for
post-secondary education.
