It takes a community to keep our children and youth safe. That’s the message posted at the top of the website for Family & Children Services Renfrew County when it comes to reporting a concern. myFM reached out to Family & Children Services (FCS) for a comment after a recent news story exposed living conditions at a home in Pembroke. FCS says they have a mandate to review and respond to all child protection concerns brought to attention. FCS says they hope to always work and plan with families to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. You can learn more about warning signs and what to look for online.
A concern over a child or youth should be reported if you suspect one or more of the following:
What You Should Know About Reporting
- You can report anonymously.
- It is not your responsibility to determine whether abuse or neglect has occurred. We’re responsible for investigating and assessing the need for protection or involvement.
- Filing a report to Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County does not prove abuse or neglect, but allows authorities to take the appropriate actions to determine the risk of each situation.
- Each report will be investigated and the situation will be evaluated to ensure the child and family receives the support necessary to keep the child safe.
- There are times when some parents may mistreat or harm their children due to problems they are having in their family. When a request for help or a report is made to Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County, a Child Protection Worker will become involved by working with everyone in the family to determine what is happening and what services may be of help to protect the child from risk of harm.
How to Reach Family and Children Services of Renfrew County
There is someone available to take your call, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you have a concern, please call us at 613-735-6866 or toll free at 1-800-267-5878.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)
