TABLE 1-1
Child welfare legislation and services are organized in Canada at the provincial and territorial levels. Child welfare is a mandatory service, directed by provincial and territorial child welfare statutes. Although all child welfare systems share certain basic characteristics organized around investigating reports of alleged maltreatment, providing various types of counselling and supervision, and looking after children in out-of-home care, there is considerable variation in the organization of these service delivery systems. For additional information, refer to page 9.
| Province | Administration | Child Welfare Statutes | Age Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | The Department of Health and Community Services is responsible for the provision of child welfare programs and services. Child protection is provided through four regional integrated health authorities. | Child, Youth and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
| Prince Edward Island |
The Ministry of Social Services and Seniors, Child and Family Services Division is responsible for child welfare programs and services. Child protection is delivered through four regional offices. | Child Protection Act | Under 16; 16-18 for children with mental, developmental, or physical challenges |
| Nova Scotia | The Department of Community Services, Children Youth and Families Division is responsible for child welfare programs and services. Child protection services are provided through 20 child welfare offices, six of which are district offices and 14 privately run societies/family and children’s services agencies. One of these agencies is mandated to serve the Mi’kmaw First Nation community. | Children and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
| New Brunswick | Child welfare is the responsibility of the Department of Social Development. Child protection services are provided through 18 delivery sites in eight regions. In addition, there are 11 agencies providing services to the First Nations communities of New Brunswick. | Family Services Act | Under 16; under 19 for youth with disability |
| Québec | The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux funds child welfare programs and services through 19 Centres jeunesse in 18 regions. | Youth Protection Act | Under 18 |
| Ontario | The Ministry of Children and Youth Services funds for child welfare programs and services, which are provided by Children’s Aid Societies throughout the province. There are 53 Children’s Aid Societies, which are governed by Boards of Directors elected from the local communities. Six Children’s Aid Societies were fully mandated to serve First Nations communities in Ontario in 2008. | Child and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
| Manitoba | Child welfare is the responsibility of the Ministry of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, Child and Family Services Division. Child Protection services are provided by four departmental offices, six private non-profit agencies, 14 mandated First Nations agencies and one Métis agency supported by four authorities. | Child and Family Services Act | Under 18 |
| Saskatchewan | Child welfare is the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Services. Child protection services are provided through 20 service offices in six regions. There are 17 fully delegated First Nations child protection agencies in Saskatchewan. | Child and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
| Alberta | The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is responsible for child welfare programs and services. Child intervention services are provided through ten Child and Family Services Authorities; nine of which are regionally based and one provides services to Métis settlements throughout the province. In addition there are 18 First Nations agencies providing child protection services. | Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act | Under 18 |
| British Columbia | The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Child Protection Division is responsible for child welfare programs and services. Workers in 429 offices, in five regions, provide child protection services with support from the provincial office of the Child Protection Division. There are seven fully mandated First Nations child protection agencies in British Columbia. | Children, Family and Community Services Act | Under 19 |
| Yukon | The Department of Health and Social Services, Family and Children’s Services is responsible for the provision of child welfare programs and services. Child protection services are provided through 11 offices. | Children’s Act | Under 18 |
| Northwest Territories | The Department of Health and Social Services is responsible for child welfare programs and services. Child protection is delivered through eight health and social services authorities. | Child and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
| Nunavut | The Department of Health and Social Services provides child protection services to the communities in Nunavut. Child protection services are provided from three regional offices. | Child and Family Services Act | Under 16 |
Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect – 2008
* Information was compiled through interviews with Ministerial officials and information posted on provincial and territorial websites; this table represents the administrative structures in place at the time of data collection in October 2008.