Black, T., Fallon, B., Joh-Carnella, N., & Allan, K. (2023). Child Custody / Access Disputes in Child Maltreatment-Related Investigations in Ontario in 2018. CWRP Information Sheet #243E. Toronto, ON: Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal.
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 custody/access disputes in maltreatment-related investigations in Ontario in 2018.
Child custody disputes within the context of child protection investigations can pose unique challenges for child protection workers due to repeated allegations made by the parents, the heightened risk of violence, and an increased risk to the safety of the children caught between their parents’ disputes.