Reporting Child Abuse

Helpline Number

For technical reasons the ministry has changed its Helpline for Children telephone number to 310-1234. This is a toll free number. It is a local telephone number anywhere in the province.

Over the next two years people calling the operator and asking for the old Zenith 1234 line will be transferred to the new
310-1234 number.

Call the Helpline when you have a concern about the safety and well-being of a child.

Duty to report abuse or suspected abuse

Anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected has a legal duty under the Child, Family and Community Service Act to report the matter.

How to report

Report to a child protection social worker in either a Ministry of Children and Family Development office, or a First Nations child welfare agency that provides child protection services.

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call your local district office (listed in the blue pages of your phone book).

Monday to Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and on statutory holidays, call the Helpline for Children. Dial 310-1234 (no area code needed).

For emergencies outside office hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday).

• Vancouver, North Shore Richmond, call (604) 660-4927
• Lower Mainland, Burnaby, Delta, Maple Ridge, Langley, call (604) 660-8180
• For the rest of the province, call toll-free 1-800-663-9122

Foster Families' Support Line - After Hours call 1-888-495-4440
        4:00 p.m. - 12:45 a.m., Monday to Friday
        8:00 a.m. - 12:45 a.m. statutory holidays and weekends

If you have a concern relating to a child in your care during regular office hours, please contact the child's social worker or your own support worker.

You need not have details or proof prior to calling. But you will be asked for as much information about the concern as you can provide. This will include;

• Your name and phone number (although you may call anonymously if you prefer)
• relationship to child
• any immediate concerns about the child's safety;
• the location of the child;
• the child's age;
• information on the situation including all physical and behavioural indicators observed;
• information about the family, parents and alleged offenders;
• the nature of the child's disabilities, if any;
• the name of a key support person;
• other child(ren) who may be affected;
• information about other persons or agencies closely involved with the child and/or family;
• and any other relevant information concerning the child and/or family such as language and culture.

The child protection social worker will:

If a child is in immediate danger, police should be called to intervene and a child protection social worker should be contacted to determine whether the child is in need of protection.