Remember: See to the welfare of children

SUMMER is in full swing and most children are at home.

But how many adults are being more observant of the children within their neighbourhoods?

Remember, it is important to keep a close watch and report to the Office of the Children’s Advocate, Office of the Children’s Registry, the Child Development Agency or the police if you believe a child is in need of care and protection.

According to the Office of the Children’s Advocate, children are in need of care and protection if they have no parent or guardian, or have a parent or guardian who is unfit to exercise care, protection and guardianship; are being cared for in circumstances in which their physical or mental health or emotional state is being seriously impaired, or there is substantial risk that it will be impaired; are being exposed to moral danger; are found to be destitute; wandering without any place of abode, or without visible means of subsistence; begging or loitering; are children against whom an offence has been committed or attempted to be committed; are members of a household within which an offence has been committed or attempted against another child; or live in a household where a member has been convicted of an offence against a child.

Additionally, a child who has been subjected to any criminal offence can be deemed to be in need of care and protection.

Of note, remember that a person who has information which causes that person to suspect that a child is in need of care and protection and does not make a report to the Registry or other relevant authorities commits an offence under the Child Care and Protection Act (Section 6 [4]) and shall be liable upon summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate to a fine not exceeding $500,000, or to imprisonment to a term not exceeding six months, or to both.