Preventing child abuse is a community responsibility

London, ON – The residents of London and Middlesex County will soon be seeing transit shelters, newspaper ads and posters urging them to report child abuse and neglect. The hard-hitting public awareness campaign Child Abuse, Suspect It - Report It, is the result of a partnership with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex, Viacom Outdoor, The London Free Press and Sharpfusion Communications Canada Inc.

Since October 2002, there have been seven deaths and one serious injury involving infants and young children in the London-Middlesex area. While some of these incidents are still being investigated, charges of assault against caregivers have been laid in several cases.

“These deaths have shocked, saddened and disturbed Londoners and they have raised questions about local resources and responses, “says Susan Ralyea, Manager, Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program, Middlesex- London Health Unit. Ralyea explains that the magnitude of these events, unprecedented in Ontario, served as the catalyst for the campaign which focuses on community responsibility in the prevention of child abuse.

“The community plays a significant role in a multi-pronged approach,” says Ralyea. “The safety of a child cannot rest solely with one child protection worker, one public health nurse or one police officer. The safety of a child also resides with a neighbour who hears things, a bus driver who sees things on a daily basis, a relative or a family friend who doesn’t want to interfere. “

“It is every person’s legal responsibility to report child abuse and neglect to the CAS,” says Rhonda Hallberg, Director of Intake Services at the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex. She states that “A citizen’s concern and subsequent report can bring assistance to a family experiencing difficulties with their children.”

Londoners who suspect child abuse and neglect should report their concerns by calling 455- 9000. It is not the responsibility of the person calling to determine whether a child has been abused or neglected, but rather that they have a suspicion that abuse or neglect has occurred. It is the responsibility of the CAS to determine whether “the child is in need of protection” and the responsibility of the police to determine whether criminal charges will be laid.

The community public awareness campaign could not have been realized without the generous donations of our three corporate sponsors. Viacom Outdoor is donating 52 weeks of space at 15 transit shelters worth a value of approximately $130,000. The London Free Press and Sharpfusion Communications Canada are matching dollars that the Health Unit and Children’s Aid Society spent on advertising space and design.

For more information please contact:

Susan Ralyea, Manager, Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program
Middlesex-London Health Unit, 663-5317, ext. 2250

Rhonda Hallberg, Director of Intake Services
Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex,
455-9000 ext. 337; if not available contact Elizabeth Almeida at ext. 475