Ontario

This section contains material related to child welfare in Ontario.

Ontario - Statistics

Ontario Statistics - 2003

  Number Incidence per
1000 Children
Child population (0-17 years) in Ontario ** 2,390,665  
Maltreatment investigations 128,108 *** 52,59
Substantiated Child Investigations * 58,425 24,44
Breakdown of substantiated child investigation    
      Physical Abuse 14,054 5,88
      Sexual Abuse 1,490 0,62
      Neglect 15,660 6,55
      Emotional Maltreatment 8,703 3,64
      Exposure to Domestic Violence 18,518 7,75
Case to stay open 23,013  
Admission to out-of-home care 5,628  

* Based on a sample of 3,193 substantiated child maltreatment investigations.

** Source: Canada. Statistics Canada. Census of Canada, 2001: Age and Sex for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions 2001 Census — 100% Data [computer file]. Ottawa: Ont.: Statistics Canada [producer and distributor], October 22, 2002 (95F0300XCB01006). Census data quality can be found here and here.

*** Barbara Fallon, Nico Trocmé, Bruce MacLaurin, Della Knoke, Tara Black, Joanne Daciuk, Caroline Felstiner, Ontario incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect, OIS 2003: Major Findings Report. Toronto, ON: Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, 2005.
 

Ontario: Children and youth in out-of-home care in 2007

Children in care Child (0-18) population Rate per 1000
18,763 2,931,745 6.4


§ Child welfare services fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and territorial authorities, making it difficult to compile statistics at the national level. The most notable variations between provinces include mandate variation by jurisdiction with respect to the age to which children are eligible for services, differences in the length of time a child can receive out-of-home care and the definition of out-of-home care.