SOCIAL WORKERS WILL TAKE CHARGE

Editor: Re:

The Ministry of Children and Family Development takes very seriously
any risk to a child, including that posed by grow-ops, and our laws
ensure that social workers are equipped to deal with any situation
that they are faced with.

Child protection is everyone's responsibility. All citizens, including
police and fire officials, who come into contact with a child being
exposed to a grow-op or other drug production lab have a legal duty to
report their concerns.

Section 14 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act states that
a person who has reason to believe that a child needs protection must
promptly report the matter to a director of child welfare or a person
designated by a director.

In cases such as grow-ops, when contacted by police or fire
departments, we work co-operatively with these agencies and respond
whenever there are reports that children may be in the home. In
consultation with a supervisor, social workers use their professional
judgment within the context of our child welfare legislation to decide
what actions need to be taken.

I can assure your readers that the ministry does and will continue to
take these matters very seriously.

TOM CHRISTENSEN

Minister of Children and Family Development