Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 0B8
TO: Child Care Licensees
FROM: Holly Moran, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division
DATE: November 23, 2023
SUBJECT: Importance of the Duty to Report Children in Need of Protection
The Ministry of Education is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all children, including children who may need protection or who may be at risk of harm. As professionals working closely with young children on a daily basis, the child care sector plays a critical role in protecting these children.
Under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA), anyone who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is, or may be, in need of protection must promptly report the suspicion and the information upon which it is based to a children’s aid society. Professionals who work with children who fail to report as required may be convicted of an offence under the CYFSA. This includes staff and providers in licensed child care programs.
The following resources may be helpful in supporting you, as well as your staff and providers, in understanding this duty to report:
- Report child abuse and neglect | Ontario.ca
- Duty to report – Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (oacas.org)
- Professional_Advisory_Duty_to_Report.pdf (college-ece.ca)
- Duty to Report - Professional Advisory | Ontario College of Teachers (oct.ca)
It is important that everyone working in the child care sector understand the importance of their obligations under the CYFSA. In light of this, the Ministry of Education intends to consult on proposed regulatory amendments related to staff training on the duty to report.
In accordance with section 84 of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, a summary of these proposed amendments will be posted on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry early in 2024. Additional details will be provided at that time, including a link to the summary and information on how to submit feedback.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your program advisor or the Licensed Child Care Helpdesk at childcare_ontario@ontario.ca or 1-877-510-5333.
Sincerely,
Holly Moran
c. Consolidated Municipal Service Managers / District Social Services Administration Boards