ChildCareBC Bulletin

Edition 122,  September 9, 2026

Archived editions

Reminder: Duty to report concerns about suspected child abuse or neglect

Caregivers have a duty to report concerns about suspected child abuse or neglect under the Child, Family and Community Service Act. If a child or youth may be at risk, staff do not need to be certain that abuse or neglect has occurred before making a report. Concerns should be reported as soon as possible to a child welfare worker at 1-800-663-9122.

For information on reporting responsibilities, signs of abuse and neglect, and what to report, please refer to the B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect and the Province’s Reporting Child Abuse in B.C. web page.

Fall social media safety campaign

The Province is leading an online social media campaign this fall focused on digital safety and consent.

Intended for youth aged 10-15 and their parents, caregivers and trusted adults, the campaign is designed to raise awareness about safe online behaviours and encourage help-seeking and reporting when online harms occur.

The campaign will begin in late September, with campaign materials to be shared in the coming weeks. Child care providers are encouraged to share campaign messages and materials with their networks to promote awareness. 

From reaction to response: Understanding children's behaviour

Early learning and child care professionals in B.C. are invited to join the next session of the quarterly Inclusive child care webinar series taking place on Tuesday, September 22 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

Hosted by CanAssist at the University of Victoria, this interactive webinar is designed to help educators look beyond behaviours to better understand the underlying needs children may be communicating.

Through real-world scenarios, participants will explore the four Functions of Behaviour, apply the Stress Detective and Sensory Profile tools, and practice language shifts that promote belonging and positive outcomes for all children.

The webinar is grounded in CanAssist's Behaviour in the Early Years course on the Hub for BC Early Years Professionals.

For more information and to register, visit CanAssist’s Inclusive child care webinar series web page.

Reminder: New advertised phone number for B.C.'s Helpline for Children

The Helpline for Children is a confidential, 24/7 service operated by the Ministry of Children and Family Development that provides children and youth with direct, prioritized access to a child welfare worker when they or someone they know are feeling unsafe or being abused.

The Helpline for Children is accessible through two phone numbers, 1-877-631-8282 (fully toll-free and accessible across all telephone carriers and platforms) and 310-1234 (may not work with some carriers or platforms).

Due to the ongoing technical and accessibility challenges with the seven‑digit “310” service, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is no longer referencing “310-1234” in its publications and is instead promoting the existing toll-free number: 1-877-631-8282.

The 310‑1234 number remains active, but print and online materials are being updated with the toll-free number.  

Child care providers and partners are encouraged to update online materials to reference the toll-free number 1-877-631-8282 and to incorporate the number into future print materials as they are reprinted.

Safety and Emergency Management Planning Guide

An updated Safety and Emergency Management Planning Guide is available through the ministry’s Safety and Emergency Management Planning for Schools, Districts and Authorities web page.

This updated guide aligns with current provincial emergency management legislation and standardized approaches, incorporates inclusive safety planning considerations, and highlights collaboration with community partners and child care operators.

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