Return To Written Question 5-14(6) asked by the Member for Great Slave to the Minister of Health and Social Services on child protection protocol.

1. What is the status of the child protection protocol review?

The review of the 1996 Child Abuse Protocol, which began in 2000, was delayed while amendments to the new Child and Family Services Act were prepared. These amendments were assented to in October 2002.

A Child Abuse Protocol Review Committee, comprised of the signatories to the protocol, was established to understand the review. The signatories include the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment and Justice, the RCMP and Justice Canada's NWT region office (Crown counsel).

The review committee has reached agreement on a revised declaration of commitment, overview and statement of principles. Work on the roles and responsibilities of the signatories in reporting, investigating, prosecuting and following up on any report of suspected child abuse has been completed. Revisions to the agreements section are currently underway. It is expected that the revision process will be completed by the end of August 2003. The signatories will then sign the revised protocol.

2. What is the consultation and communications process for involving and informing the public and social agencies?

Communications will involve, but not be limited to, the signatory departments and agencies, other government agencies that provide services to children and families and non-government organizations such as the Family Violence Coalition, the Child Sexual Abuse Coalition, the Native Women's Association and the Status of Women Council of the NWT. Training on the details and the use of the protocol will be offered to the staff of signatory agencies, such as members of the RCMP, school personnel and child protection workers who are responsible for reporting, investigating, prosecuting and following up on any report of suspected child abuse.

3. Will the Minister make public the revised child abuse handbook, protocol agreements and standards and procedures manual for child protection workers?

The revised Child Abuse Protocol and the Child Abuse Handbook will be available from any of the signatory agencies. The documents will also be available on the Department of Health and Social Services' public Web site, [email protected].

The Standards and Procedures Manual for Child Protection Workers is also a public document. It is available on request from the Department of Health and Social Services.