The strap is no longer an acceptable disciplinary tool in the Canadian parenting playbook.

But elsewhere, corporal punishment is still the norm.

It's a cultural difference that can turn into a barrier for newcomers, says a McMaster University social work professor exploring this collision of disciplinary styles.

Take physical punishment out of the equation and some immigrant parents feel helpless, says Mirna Carranza.

"They almost feel as though they're being stripped of their right."

In collaboration with local agencies, Carranza hopes to bridge gaps between newcomers and the child-welfare system through a year-long study.

During years of work with immigrants, she noticed corporal punishment was a recurring problem. Today, feedback from the field tells the same story.

"Everything is anecdotal," she said. "You talk with community people and that's what they tell you. You talk with professionals and that's what they tell you."

But Carranza wants to examine the question systematically to gain a better grasp of the disconnect.

The Children's Aid Society of Hamilton investigated 465 allegations of physical maltreatment from July 1, 2014 to Aug. 1, 2015.

The Catholic agency, meanwhile, opened 229 child protection probes from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, in which there were concerns about excessive physical force.

The two child welfare organizations, which are partners in the project, don't track incidents according to country of origin or ethnic background.

Both say immigrant families don't stand out among the crowd, but acknowledge Carranza's concern is an issue.

"Certainly some new immigrants might need some education about practices," said Donna Zan, director of service for the Catholic child-welfare agency.

By and large, Zan says, parents understand when it's pointed out that corporal punishment isn't acceptable in Canada.

Turbulence over differing parenting styles is nothing new, says Dominic Verticchio, executive director of the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton.

The culture clash has existed as long as immigration.

Verticchio, an Italian immigrant who arrived in 1964, recalls how corporal punishment was acceptable in his family and cultural sphere.

"My mom was a disciplinarian, rather than my dad. My dad would sound like a broken record."

Typically, the more established an immigrant group is, the stronger its support network becomes, Verticchio says.

This helps child-welfare workers address problems by approaching community representatives such as religious leaders.

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"We alone may not garner the confidence of the family. If we have those established associations, or leadership, they can bridge with us."

Gaining that trust can be crucial, especially for parents who are from conflict zones or where state authorities are feared, Verticchio says.

Language and cultural barriers can cut off parents from resources, as well. Both child-welfare agencies work with parents to offer disciplinary measures that don't involve physical punishment, working with interpreters when necessary.

Carranza doesn't brand recent arrivals as bad parents if they don't realize hitting children isn't acceptable and can land criminal charges.

In fact, many leave war, famine and poverty to give their kids a better life in Canada.

"Safety of the children is at the core."

But while many countries, including Canada, have signed United Nations child protection pacts, the protocols haven't necessarily trickled down through society, she says.

Carranza describes Canada, meanwhile, as "very child-centric," with policies and programs tailored to youngsters' welfare. But there's evidence many Canadians across the board are foggy on how far parents can go.

A national survey commissioned by Toronto Public Health in 2006 showed most Canadians didn't know about a 2004 Supreme Court ruling on corporal punishment.

Two-thirds of 2,451 of Canadians 18 or older didn't know about the decision, while 64 per cent who believed parents were allowed to use physical punishment didn't know how much force is allowed.

Carranza hopes her study can provide a tool box for parents and child-welfare professionals alike, as well as contribute to university social work curriculum.

The Immigrant Women's Centre is also a partner in the study. McMaster is providing $15,000 for the project, half of which goes to the women's centre.