Physical Punishment of Children and Youth (Motion #52-05)

Moved by Dennis, Pilon. Approved on June 16, 2005, by the Sudbury & District Board of Health.

Motion

WHEREAS public health has a goal to increase the percentage of children and youth who meet physical, cognitive, communicative and psychosocial developmental milestones; and

WHEREAS studies indicate the utilization of physical punishment is still widely used and may have serious consequences for children; and

WHEREAS public health has a role in conjunction with other community agencies to educate potential and actual caregivers of children about the potential negative consequences of physical punishment and methods of positive discipline; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) has resolved to advocate locally and provincially for education of potential and actual caregivers of children and youth about the potential negative consequences of physical punishment and methods of positive discipline; and

WHEREAS the national Joint Statement of Physical Punishment of Children and Youth (Durrant et al., 2004) sets out a clear position against the use of physical punishment based on a review of the most recent literature;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Sudbury & District Board of Health endorse the Joint Statement of Physical Punishment of Children and Youth, and

FURTHER THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health advocate for other Boards of Health to endorse the Joint Statement of Physical Punishment of Children and Youth; and

FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa).

This item was last modified on June 12, 2015