Opinion by Susan Karpman, Ometz Chief Program Officer

As parents, we do many things to help our children grow up healthy and stay safe. We teach them not to touch a hot stove, not to talk to strangers; we make sure their toys pose no risk. We take the safety of our children very seriously. As we should. As parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbours, doctors, social workers and as a community, we look out for our children’s wellbeing. So when you see something that tells you a child is at risk, what can you do? If you know a child is being abused, or has been abandoned or neglected, you call Youth Protection Services. These children do not have a voice. They need you to speak up for them.

In our community, we call Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. Manny Batshaw was an iconic member of the Jewish community; a trailblazing social worker who lent his name to Batshaw Services. Today Batshaw Centres’ role is to protect children whose security and development are in danger and they have a strong commitment to the cultural values of the communities they serve. Community leaders, synagogues, women’s shelters, schools and others work with them. Ometz, the community’s leading social service agency, is also here to guide you if you need information and support on making that call. Our professionals can talk with you and help determine if you should call Batshaw Centres—and all of it can be done directly and anonymously.

We all have the same goal – to keep children safe in their own homes. The number of Jewish children under Youth Protection Services represents a tiny fraction of Batshaw Centres’ families. And the vast majority of those children remain in their homes with support services. Batshaw Centres will only remove a child from his or her home when there are no options.

So what can we do to make sure that, in these exceptional cases, a child is placed in a Jewish and culturally appropriate home? Ometz has worked with our community and religious leaders to educate and sensitize them to the role of Youth Protection and how they can be involved. We work with our partners to ensure that our children have the support of the community. Jewish schools, social services, volunteers and mentors, camps – all our community services and resources are coordinated in a plan to ensure the child’s safety and care. It is incumbent upon each of us to do what we can to support children’s placement within their community. If you are prepared to take a child into your home in cases of emergency or for a long-term placement, you can call Batshaw’s Resource Department at 514-937-9581, ext. 1139 and find out more. You can specify age, gender, observance, and language.

You want to know what you can do? This is it. When a Jewish child needs a Jewish home, you can be the one to help.