Glossary - Abuse and Family Violence
In Abuse and Family Violence, Abuse of people with disabilities, Elder abuse, Health and Disability, Home care, Long‑term care
A caregiver is someone who looks after people who need care, for example, an older adult, a child, or a person with a disability.
Caregivers can be family members, health-care practitioners, friends, paid helpers, or social workers. They work with people in their own homes, retirement homes, long-term care homes, and other health-care settings.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
This is a child who has been or is at risk of being harmed because of something that their parent or caregiver has done or not done.
The law says a child is “in need of protection” only when one or more specific conditions are met. For example, it says a child might be in need of protection if at least one of the following is true:
- they suffered from physical harm because of what a parent did
- there is a risk that they will likely suffer physical harm because of what a parent does
- they have been sexually abused by a parent
- there is a risk that they will likely be sexually abused by a parent
If the court decides that a child is in need of protection, it can make an order that it thinks in in the child’s best interests. For example, it can order that the child be placed in the care of the Children’s Aid Society.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) has a legal duty to make sure that children are protected from harm. The government has given them this job. In some places in Ontario, CAS is called Child and Family Services.
In Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Family Law
At the end of your trial, you get a chance to briefly tell the judge why you should get the court order you’re asking for. This is called a closing statement. Your closing statement should be based on:
- what you or other witnesses said
- the documents used as evidence
- family law rules and laws
You cannot talk about any new information that was not used as evidence in the trial.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law
Cross-examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions the other party’s witnesses. The purpose of cross-examination is to test how true and reliable a witness’ answers are.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law
The Crown Attorney, sometimes called the prosecutor, is a government lawyer who presents the case against the person accused of a crime in criminal court. They work for the government and are not the victim’s lawyer.
In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
A Crown ward is a child under the age of 18 years who has been taken away from their parents’ care by the court and is in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS). The CAS makes all of the decisions for the child that their parents would normally make.
In Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Family Law
The new term for custody is decision-making responsibility for most family law cases. If you have a child protection case, the term custody may still be used.
Decision-making responsibility or custody is the right to make important decisions about how to care for and raise a child. It includes the right to make decisions about the child’s health, education, religion, and important extra-curricular activities.
The parents can agree to or the court can give:
- one parent all decision-making responsibility,
- 2 or more parents decision-making responsibility, or
- different parents separate responsibilities, for example, one parent makes decisions about the child’s health and another parent makes decisions about the child’s religion.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law
Customary care is the type of care a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis child might get if they cannot be cared for by their parents. It means the child is cared for in a way that considers their First Nations, Inuk, or Métis community’s culture, heritage, traditions, and who they see as family.
