49 CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS What Should I Do continued • “I’m sorry that happened to you.” • “It’s not your fault.” • “You were very brave to tell me. I know that must have been hard to do.” • “You did the right thing by telling me.” Things that might not be helpful to say Even with best intentions, some reactions can unintentionally make a child feel blamed or judged. Try to avoid reactions that question “why” they responded the way they did, or imply the child did something wrong. Some examples of responses to avoid include: • “Why didn’t you say anything?” • “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” • “What were you doing there in the first place?” • “Are you telling the truth?” • “I know that person, there’s no way they would do anything bad.” Document As soon as you are able, write down what the child or youth told you, in their exact words. Don’t add your own assumptions to ‘fill in the blanks’. Report Understand your Duty to Report and how to report a concern. childrenfirstcanada.org Duty to Report If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child, it is your legal duty to report it to Child Protection Services. Every person who knows or suspects that a child (a person under the age of 18) needs protection MUST REPORT. Call the Child Protection Assessment Unit: Regular business hours: 902-368-6657 or toll-free at 1-877-341-3101. After hours, holidays & weekends: 902-368-6868 or toll free at 1-800-341-6868 www.princeedwardisland.ca By knowing how to respond, you can make a critical difference in the life of a child or youth.
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