a ’ Page 12 January 1981 Cassiar Courier A4ELPLINE FOR CHILDREN Cont'd. from Page 11 , equire no staff. response and do not take up much time. As well, even a hang-up call may yield future results. Some prank calls may be made by children who are test- ing the service. Even if they do not need help now, these callers will remember the service if they face problems at some future time. FOLLOW-UP ON CALLS WITH CHILD WELFARE CONCERNS Helpline staff report any call which seems to relate to child welfare concerns to the district office responsible for the area from which the call came. Social workers from the district office investigate each referral and enter cases of probable child abuse and neglect on the Provincial Reg- istry of Protection Complaints. This registry was set up in 1969 as a central record of chil- ° dren who were allegedly abused. It was not until 1975 that procedures for reporting were standardized and com- plaints of neglect were added. In its current form, the registry acts as a clearing-house for information on famil- ies where serious child welfare concerns exist, and records statistics on the problems of child abuse and neglect. Social workers notify the registry of complaints of alleged maltreatment of children and provide follow-up reports on the outcome of each case. Where a complaint is later determined to be unfounded, this information is entered. All information entered on the Registry is held in strict confidence. The introduction of the Helpline had a significant impact on the number of complaints entered in the registry. Re- ports of all types increased. It was also found that many reports were on families previously unknown to Ministry staff. The increases affected all age groups of children. The following figures show the increase in reports to the Registry during several three-month periods in 1979 and 1980. Complaints entered on the Registry- } Abuse Neglect Other Total April - June 1979 275 136 11 422 July-Sept.1979* - 290 195 12 497 Oct-Dec. 1979 489 264 20 773 Jan.-Mar. 1980 425 286 24 735 Apr.-June 1980 436 238 22 696 * The Helpline began operation in mid-August. In-all child welfare cases, Ministry staff become involved in intensive work with the family. If support and counsell- iag to the family can potentially alleviate the problem,this is provided. In more serious cases, the child may be re- moved from the family under the provisions of the Family aid Child Service Act and placed with a foster family. In these situations, staff develop a plan for the child which may be eventual return to the family, substitute family living or adoption. However, with the development of knowledge and skills on the part of professionals in the area of child abuse and neglect, plus the steady increase of community-based support services for families, children who might previously have been separated from their fam- ilies can now be safely maintained in their own homes. ¢ The need for the Helpline for Children has been demon- trated by the response it generated from families and children throughout the province. Until this service devel- oped, after hours emergency services were available only in the large urban areas, and there were times when need- ed services were not received because families did not know where to turn for help or because the person who got the call was not able to respond appropriately. The overwhelming response to the service in its first few months of operation seems to indicate that many. families who did not ask for help from other sources,were able to do so through the Helpline. The Helpline for Children now provides a co-ordinated re- sponse to child abuse and neglect complaints, and ensures follow-up and immediate investigation where necessary. An increased public.awareness of the problem of child a- buse and neglect has also developed. The problem itself is not new; the awareness and concern about it are. With more awareness and more community resources to deal with it, the problem of child abuse and neglect can be al- leviated. The Helpline has proven to be a valuable step in this di- rection and will continue to be available to families and children who need help. To contact the Helpline, call.Operator...Zenith 1234, toll- free 24 hours a day. This article was submitted by John Nuyens, District Super . visor, B.C. Ministry of Human Resources, Cassiar. B.C. MOVIE SCHEDULE Sat. 17 thu. 15 ri 16 WARNING Vibat is this thing called love. ‘us tah, PAUL MAZURSKYS "That's St fate another movic. TWENTIETH CENTURYE SE "WILLIE & Pri MICHAEL ONT ROAM MARGOT KIDOER RAY SHARKEY Thu. 22 Fri, 23 You know me, I can't Pew 4 Tue. a7 Sar Thu.. 29 —— CINDERELLA AND FAIRY TALES NOTICE: MOVIE WILL BE SHOWN AT 6:00 P.M. ®: INSTEAD OF 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday only. Sein. = CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Sun. Ted 0 Wed. 21 = MATURE ENTERTAINMENT | pe Starring MARTY FELDMAN oe bs GEORGE BURNS tek ear eid Ae SUZANNE PLESHETT PETER BOYLE Ke. rr bic DAVID BIRNEY LOUISE LASSER - | Brother Ambrose, /ith a visitation by : ‘not oH RICHARD PRYOR as God | tempbsticns Introducing ANDY KAUFMAN hs Armageddon T. Thunderbird "SUNDAY 25th eae CONCERT Fri. 30 Sat. 3] <> THE MOST DANGEROUS oe IN THE WORLD. WALTER MATTHAU *OLENDA JACKSON \- HePSCSTE fy WRODIOY SAM WATERSTON. HERBERT LOM 2\NED BEATTY « tens Acura Pato: NATHAN BERASTEN ae BRAK GARFIELD. Sou BRAN oe Dae BRYAN FORBES tat w reve 9 BRIAN GARIELD cee e tape sancin MORT ABRAHAMS ican Pa {IE LY LANA eet ROKALD EAN we LO Pie > ect LEMME, FLA ORS a Sk RCTS “CRIB SAFETY ~ A checklist to determine the safety of second- hand or used baby cribs has again been issued by: the Department of Consumer and Corporate Af-| fairs in light of a recent death in Ontario attribut- ed to an unsafe crib. Parents are urged to exercise caution when pur- chasing or acquiring a used crib or if they are now in possession of a second-hand crib. The following checklist has been prepared by Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada and con- forms to safety requirements stipulated by the Hazardous Products Act: -1. Ensure the space between bars or slats is no more than six centimetres (2 3/8 inches) at the widest point. Cribs with wider openings can per- mit a child to squeeze through feet first and hang himself. 2. Measure the distance between the top of the sides and the mattress support board when the board is adjusted to its lowest position. When the drop side is lowered it should remain at least 23 centimetres (nine inches) above the mattress sup- port board. 3. Make sure there is a double lock on the drop side so it cannot be operated by the baby in the crib or by a child playing outside the crib. CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE ’ 1979 CHEV BEL --AIR STATION WAGONS. 1979 CHEV % TON PICKUPS 350 AUTOMATIC 1979 CHEV % TON 4X4 350 AUTOMATIC 1979 CHEV % TON 4X4 350 STANDARD TRANS. 1980 CHEV % TON 4X4’S 350 AUTOMATIC ho = = NO PD CONTACT AVIS CAR RENTALS, WATSON LAKE, YUKON, PHONE 536-2111 NEED IIELP? Call the Native Courtworket and Coun- selling Association of B.C. The Courtworker-in your Area is: VIOLET GREENWAY, P.O. BOX 336, WATSON LAKE, Y.T. YOA 1CO PHONE: 536-7592. Violet will be in your area every first and third Monday of each month, and in Lower Post every Wednesday. 4. Ensure the end. panels extend well below the level of the mattress support board so there is no space left for the baby to get his head, legs or arms stuck. $ 5. Be certain the distance between the mattress and the sides of the crib is no more than 4 centi- metres (1% inches) to prevent your child from suffocating. The mattress should also not exceed 15 centimetres (six inches) in thickness. 6. Examine the crib for any sharp surfaces, cor-—- ners or bolts which may injure the baby. Also check for any easily removed parts which may be swallowed, inhaled or broken fo expose danger- ous points and edges. : 7. Rocking cribs should not subject the infant to physical injury such as falling or coming into violent contact with the sides. Rocking cribs should be constructed in such a manner that they can only be operated by an adult. 8. Check the overall crib structure to ensure it is strong enough to take the stress of an energetic baby. Parents may end up paying more for cribs if they follow these guidelines but the investment will be well worth it. “KEYS 9 SROBGLIX WE NOW OFFER A FULL LOCKSMITH SERVICE AT 656 BATEMAN STREET ide et ee and Reel FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSES AVAI LABLE Ammunition, Game Bags, Gun Cleaning Kits,. Skinning Knives, Smokers, s Fishing Tackle NEW HOURS R MONDAY TO FRIDAY NOON TO 3:00 P.M. 6:00 TO 8:00 P.M. } SATURDAY NOON TO 4:00 P.M aa SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS CLOSED “EVERYTHING FOR THE SPORTSMAN”