Family Handbook 2026-27

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Students wishing to connect with social work can also do so through self-referral or by reaching out to their Guidance Counsellor first. The Guidance Counsellor can support the student and discuss what their needs or concerns are in order to help them determine if it is appropriate to involve school social work. Parents/guardians may also recognize if their child is in need of additional support to make adequate progress in school. In this case, parents/guardians may contact their child’s Guidance Counsellor to discuss the possibility of one of our Social Workers becoming involved. Legal Duty to Report Section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) imposes a duty to report on any person, including those who perform professional or official duties with respect to children (including Social Workers), if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is in need of protection. The CYFSA provides that a child is in need of protection if they have suffered or are at risk of suffering from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. All suspicions of child abuse or neglect must be reported directly to a Children’s Aid Society (CAS) promptly. CAS has the exclusive mandate, under the Child and Family Services Act, to investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and to deliver child protection services. Because Social Workers engage frequently (both directly and indirectly) with children who may be at risk of harm or in need of protection, they are in a unique position to recognize possible signs of child abuse and neglect; it is therefore imperative that they be well informed with respect to their duty to report under the Section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA).

For more information about Child Protection Services and the Duty to Report, please visit their website at Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.

Outside Referral Support There may be situations where longer-term counselling is required or it would be more appropriate for counselling to occur outside of school in a setting where individual and/or family therapy can take place. The school Social Worker can provide the parent/guardian with suggestions or suitable resources in the community. Sometimes the family doctor will refer a student to a health specialist or clinic for further support.

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