child abuse & neglect

Child abuse and neglect include acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that result in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.  The five primary forms of maltreatment are physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence.

For a document that outlines definitions of frequently used terms in child abuse and neglect research, see the page with the glossary of social work and child maltreatment related terms.

You can get more information on the signs of child maltreatment from the Family Violence Initiative, operated by the Department of Justice of Canada. You can also contact Kid’s Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 for further information.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, or are looking for information about services for children or families experiencing difficulties you can contact your local child welfare authority. Click here to find the local child authority agency in your province or territory. Please visit our FAQs section to learn more about child abuse and neglect.

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Agression sexuelle et symptômes de dissociation chez des filles d’âge scolaire

Collin-Vézina, Delphine
Hébert, Martine
Brabant, Marie-Ève

2007
Alberta incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect (AIS-2003): Rates of child maltreatment

MacLaurin, Bruce
Trocmé, Nico
Fallon, Barbara
McCormack, Megan
Pitman, Lisa

2008
Alberta incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect (AIS-2003): Service dispositions for substantiated child maltreatment

MacLaurin, Bruce
Trocmé, Nico
Fallon, Barbara
Pitman, Lisa
McCormack, Megan

2008
Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2003 (AIS-2003): Major Findings

MacLaurin, Bruce
Trocmé, Nico
Fallon, Barbara
McCormack, Megan
Pitman, Lisa
Forest, Nathalie
Banks, Jennifer
Shangreaux, Corbin
Perrault, Ellen

2005
Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (AIS-2008): Major Findings
MacLaurin, Bruce
Trocmé, Nico
Fallon, Barbara
Sinha, Vandna
Feehan, Richard
Enns, Rick
Gail, Jordan
Kitt, Olivia
Thomas‑Prokop, Shelley
Zelt, Carolyn
Daoust, Gabrielle
Hutcheon, Emily
Budgell, Danielle
2013
Alienated Children and Parental Separation: Legal Responses in Canada's Family Courts

Bala, Nicholas
Fidler, Barbara-Jo
Goldberg, Dan
Houston, Claire

2007
An Epidemiological Study of Children Exposure to Violence in the Fragile Families Study
McLanahan, Sarah
Bryant-Davis, Thema 
Holcombe, Caroline 
James, Sarah 
Adams, Tyonna 
Gray, Anthea 
2014
An examination of delinquency in a national Canadian sample of child maltreatment-related investigations

Van Wert, Melissa
Ma, Jennifer
Lefebvre, Rachael
Fallon, Barbara

2013
An examination of trends in child sexual abuse investigations in Ontario over time

Fallon, Barbara
Joh-Carnella, Nicolette
Trocmé, Nico
Chabot, Martin
Esposito, Tonino
Nosrati-Inanlou, Mahsima
Collin-Vézina, Delphine

2019
An Exploration of Investigations with Primary Caregivers with Mental Health Concerns in Ontario in 2013

Houston, Emmaline
Black, Tara
Lefebvre, Rachael
Fallon, Barbara

2017