About CECW
The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW) is one of four Centres of Excellence for Children’s Well-Being funded by Public Health Agency Canada. The mandate of the Centres of Excellence program is to ensure that advanced knowledge on key issues of children’s health is disseminated effectively to those who need it most. This includes researchers, service providers, parents, children and youth, community groups, non-governmental organizations and the federal, provincial and territorial governments. CECW’s mandate is to focus on issues pertaining to child welfare. Child welfare is a term used to describe a set of government and private services designed to protect children from the various types of injury related to maltreatment and encourage family stability. Child welfare agencies, which are sometimes also called child and family service agencies, typically investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect, supervise foster care, and arrange adoptions.
Main Functions
Fostering research
The CECW works with researchers and supports the development of research capacity through training and consultation.
Disseminating information
Timely, effective dissemination of information is the cornerstone of CECW activities.
Developing policy
The CECW provides policy advice to child welfare policy makers. We also sponsor and participate in meetings, consultations, and other events that promote policy development and link policy to research and practice.
Forging networks
The CECW promotes collaboration among professionals in child welfare and related areas throughout Canada and in other countries. Researchers, service providers, and policy makers are linked through the CECW's electronic information network, research activities, policy forums, and other activities.
The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare does not advise on, intervene in, or provide child welfare services.
The suspected abuse or neglect of a child must be reported to:
- local child welfare services (e.g., children’s aid society or child and family services agency)
- provincial/territorial social service ministries or departments
Or - local police.
Complaints about individual child welfare or child protection services should be directed to:
- the child welfare agency providing the services
Or - the provincial/territorial children’s advocate
