Shared on behalf of Crystal Edwards, Director, Women & Children’s Program, TBRHSC and Dr. Teresa Bruni, Medical Director, Women & Children’s Program, TBRHSC
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services authorizes three agencies to provide child protection services in the City and District of Thunder Bay. They are as follows:
- Children’s Aid Society
- Anishinabek Family Care
- Tikinagan Child and Family Services
All safety and wellbeing concerns for a child/youth (under the age of 18) are to be reported as a Duty to Report to one of the three above listed child protection agencies.
To best support our Indigenous patients and families if a Duty to Report is to be made, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) staff will contact either Dilico Anishinabek Family Care or Tikinagan Child and Family Services. TBRHSC staff will work with the patient or family to identify the child or family’s affiliated agency. If the child or family’s affiliation is unknown, TBRHSC staff will report to one of the two identified Indigenous protection agencies.
Some patients and families will come to TBRHSC having worked with other protection agencies. While we appreciate the support and planning that may have occurred prior to their presentation to hospital, due to jurisdiction, TBRHSC staff mustcontact either Children’s Aid Society, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, or Tikinagan Child and Family Services. The informed authorized protection agency will then work with other service providers to ensure coordinated service planning.
The safety and wellbeing of all children is a priority and we appreciate your assistance with ensuring that our local child protection agencies are involved in all child protection cases managed within the City and District of Thunder Bay.