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Difference between revisions of "Introduction to Child Protection in BC and the Law"
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Introduction to Child Protection in BC and the Law (view source)
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(Created page with "{{DEMOWARNING}} {{Basics of Child Protection in BC TOC}} In British Columbia, every person who is a parent or guardian of a child is legally required to look after them. The...") |
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Under this law, you may be considered a parent even if you are not the natural mother or father. Someone living with a child’s parent and looking after a child may be considered a parent. Someone having a court order granting parenting time or guardianship can be considered a parent under this law. This can include common law partners, grandparents, and even family friends. | Under this law, you may be considered a parent even if you are not the natural mother or father. Someone living with a child’s parent and looking after a child may be considered a parent. Someone having a court order granting parenting time or guardianship can be considered a parent under this law. This can include common law partners, grandparents, and even family friends. | ||
== A Parent's Job == | |||
Becoming a parent is a life changing event. It will likely be the most important part of your life, but it can also be a difficult, challenging job. You must meet all of your child’s physical and emotional needs. You must also | |||
put your child’s best interests ahead of your own. Parents must make sure that a child who is in their care is safe and not neglected or abused. | |||
A child’s needs will change as they grow older. Babies and young children have different needs than teenagers, but all children have certain basic needs that a parent must meet. Whatever the age of your child, you must | |||
love, guide and provide for him or her. That includes meeting all of a child’s physical, emotional and health related needs until they are 19 years old. | |||
It is against the law for a parent to abuse or neglect a child. It is also against the law for a parent to allow another person to abuse or neglect a child. If you know that a child is being abused or neglected, you are required | |||
to report it to the authorities. Teachers, doctors, professionals, police, or friends and family of the child must report abuse or neglect to the Ministry, regardless of who is responsible. | |||
If you are struggling with your job as a parent, and you cannot meet your child’s basic needs, it is important that you look to other people or community groups to help support you as a parent. Asking for help can be as simple as talking to a friend or relative about the situation, or going to a community agency, your family doctor, or a government based group. | |||
There are a wide variety of community based groups or agencies where a parent can ask for help with parenting and meeting a child’s needs. A list of some of the province wide groups available to help parents can be found in the Where to get help section at the back of this book. | |||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | ||
