Canada S Law On Child Sexual Abuse A Handbook

First Published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Designed to provide professionals such as lawyers, police officers and psychologists with practical help and guidance on the treatment and care of sexually abused children. The text outlines basic concepts and deals with the many problems and obstacles encountered in daily practice.

The handbook details British Columbia's policies and systems to coordinate services for child abuse. The initial chapter presents an overview of the issue, focusing primarily on child abuse and the law, and considers such aspects as obligation to report and confidentiality. The remainder of the handbook specifies responsibilities and procedures for four governmental agencies: The Ministry of Human Resources (sexual abuse within and outside the home, physical abuse within and outside the home, and mandates and definitions); the Ministry of Attorney General (role of the justice system, policies, crown counsel, corrections, and the court system); the Ministry of Health (role of health professionals and of physicians in incidents of physical and sexual abuse); and the Ministry of Education (indications of possible abuse and neglect, the role of educators, reporting responsibilities). Included in appended materials are guidelines for investigative interviewing of child victims of sexual abuse and signals of possible abuse. (CL)

This work is an important new edition of a classic study—one of the few exhaustive examinations of childhood sexual abuse available—with 40 percent new material. Even though it is as old as human history, child sexual abuse has generally remained a dark and well-hidden secret. Only in the last few decades has it become a topic of open public debate and scientific research, and we still have more questions than answers. How often are accusations of sexual abuse legitimate, and how often are they the result of false memories? Can sexual offenders be cured, or will they ultimately re-offend? These are only a few of the difficult questions this volume seeks to answer. Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Reference Handbook explores the many ways we define child sexual abuse in the United States and in different parts of the world and how those differences are represented in U.S. and international laws. It summarizes what we know about how to intervene, treat, and prevent childhood sexual abuse effectively and tells the stories of individuals who have had a dramatic effect on the handling of childhood sexual abuse. For students, social workers, teachers, policymakers, parents, and concerned citizens, this work offers a one-stop, multifaceted discussion of one of the major issues facing children and their families.

In Canada, professionals such as doctors, teachers, and social workers must report child abuse and neglect to Child Protection Services. This is often a difficult decision--professionals may be uncertain if they should report their suspicions and worry about the relationship with the client or patient if they follow through. Child Abuse and Neglect in Canada offers a concise guide to mandatory reporting in provincial and territorial jurisdictions with specific attention to the context and unique realities of Northern Canada. As an introduction to mandatory reporting, the book opens with an exploration of the historical rise of the child welfare system, mandatory reporters' ethical duties around reporting, types of abuse and neglect, risk and protective factors, and the ascendancy of child abuse in an online environment. The text goes on to explore various factors (e.g., legal, clinical, and situational) to assist human service professionals with their decision-making, examine the reporting process, and offer relationship-repair strategies (e.g., reporting, affecting regulation, and advocating). It culminates in a comprehensive, empirically based conceptual framework to help readers maintain relationships with their clients. Predicated on the author's dissertation research, this book offers human service professionals a comprehensive framework for fulfilling professional, fiduciary obligations while providing educators with accessible teaching tools to further their pupils' understanding of the subject.

The Student Protection Act, 2002 drastically changed the law on sexual misconduct in schools. Along with new procedures and regulations, the Act also introduced many complicated, often confusing legal issues. Designed especially for educators and administrators, Sexual Misconduct in Education: Prevention, Reporting and Discipline is a comprehensive guide to these important changes.