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Back to SearchIndicates parents and caregivers need more support during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ottawa, ON – January 28, 2021 – In collaboration with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health, CHEO is raising awareness of a disturbing trend. Since September, CHEO has seen more than twice as many infants (children under 1 year) for maltreatment concerns, specifically fractures and head trauma. Our community needs to be aware.
“In my 16 years at CHEO, I have never seen this many infants with serious maltreatment injuries,” said Dr. Michelle Ward, pediatrician and Medical Director for Child and Youth Protection at CHEO. “It’s a stressful time for parents and caregivers. We all know it takes a village to raise a child. With staying at home during the pandemic, it can feel like the village is gone – be reassured, it’s not.”
The number of infants with fractures and/or head injuries for the period from Sept. 2019 to Jan. 2020 was eight. That number rose to 20 for the period from Sept. 2020 to Jan. 2021.
Many community resources and support services are listed at Parenting in Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health.
Should you have concerns for the safety or well-being of a child, or if you are a caregiver who requires support to keep your child safe, please call 613-747-7800.
“Parenting is hard. And it’s normal for parents to feel overwhelmed sometimes. But serious injuries can happen in just a few seconds of frustration. So if you or someone you know needs help, please reach out so our community can wrap around those in need,” continued Ward.
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Media contacts
CHEO
Paddy Moore
pmoore@cheo.on.ca | c. 613-769-5553
Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
Cindy Rosevear-Perron
cindy.perron@casott.on.ca
Ottawa Public Health
OPHmedia@ottawa.ca
About CHEO
Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout Eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a partner of the Kids Come First Health Team, a network of partners in Eastern Ontario working to create a high quality, standardized and coordinated system for pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.