The Eligibility Spectrum

In the mid 1990's, Children's Aid Societies throughout Ontario developed the "Eligibility Spectrum" to help social workers make consistent and accurate decisions about child welfare intervention at the time of referral. This tool encourages inquiry and discussion between the person(s) reporting the abuse and the child welfare decision-maker. It also supports a consistent and dependable response pattern to child abuse throughout the province.

The Eligibility Spectrum is based on the reasons for child protective services as set out in Section 37(2) of the Ontario Child and Family Services Act. There are five major categories:

1. Physical/Sexual Harm by Commission (deliberate harm)

2. Harm by Omission (neglect)

3. Emotional Harm

4. Abandonment/Separation

5. Caregiver Capacity

Each of these five sections is then divided into four levels of severity:

1. Extremely Severe

2. Moderately Severe

3. Minimally Severe

4. Not Severe


The Elgibility Spectrum sets out specific case examples within each protection category for each of the severity levels. All referrals are then classified according to the example that most closely fits the presenting situation. Extremely severe or moderately severe referrals are investigated, while minimally severe or not severe referrals are not investigated.

• Read an example of how the the above Eligibility Spectrum is used in suspected cases of abuse
• Read about a Child Protection Worker who makes tough decisions every day using the Eligibility Spectrum.