Pros and cons of contacting the ministry

Consider some of these pros and cons before you call the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Pros

• You and your children may get the help you need.
• You may learn new skills and find new resources.
• You may establish a positive working relationship with the ministry.
• You may prevent future problems.

Cons

• You may disagree with the ministry's suggestions or dislike its services.
• The ministry may want more involvement with you and your family than you had planned.
• The ministry may be unable to help you because:
  • Your request may not fit its mandate.
  • Funding for what you need may not be available.
  • The ministry may disagree that you need help.
• A permanent record will be kept on file. If a complaint is ever filed against you in the future, that record could influence the social worker's actions and decisions.
• Your abilities as a parent may be questioned, and your request to the ministry may turn into a child protection investigation.
• Different ministry offices and workers take different approaches to helping people, so you may not be able to predict the response you'll get.