Intimate Partner Violence Investigations in Ontario in 2018

The Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2018 (OIS-2018) is the sixth provincial study to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and the characteristics of children and families investigated by child welfare authorities in Ontario. This Information Sheet examines concerns about children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ontario in 2018. IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic is a source of concern given the isolation of children and families and the stress that economic instability, social isolation, and a lack of access to safety and services creates for caregivers and children. To better appreciate the nature of cases brought to the attention of child protection services, this Information Sheet describes investigations involving children’s exposure to IPV in Ontario in 2018, including: the nature of the concern, substantiation decision, functioning concerns for the primary caregiver, child age categories, and referrals made to internal or external services at the conclusion of the investigation.