A record waiting list
The waiting list for evaluation is reaching new heights at the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DYP). After the holidays, the waiting list was more than 5100 names across Quebec, an unprecedented figure. One region is particularly problematic: the Montérégie, which had, in early January, more than 800 children waiting, learned La Presse.
KATIA GAGNONTHE PRESSTwo weeks later, as of January 21, the list is still at an "important and high" level, with 4714 names, says the office of the minister responsible for social services, Lionel Carmant. The situation is critical, says Robert Comeau, president of the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique en santé et services sociaux (APTS), the union that brings together DYP stakeholders.
"If abuse were a virus, we would be in a national emergency right now," he said. We are very concerned about these figures. Behind each of these 5000,<> cases, there is a potential for deterioration. And we risk escaping it. »
André Lebon, former vice-president of the Laurent commission
"This is highly worrying," said former commission vice-president Laurent André Lebon. When the Select Committee on Children's Rights and Youth Protection submitted its report almost two years ago, the waiting list was 3500.
Service pressure is currently at an all-time high, and with staff shortages, our ability to respond is at an all-time low.
André Lebon, former vice-president of the Laurent commission
Quebec has been trying for years to reduce this waiting list. Codes 1 and 2, which are considered urgent, are processed within 24 or 48 hours. Codes 3 are on this list. Reports that affect these children have been retained and must now be assessed to determine if the children's health and safety are at risk. For this, they sometimes have to wait for long weeks.
Glaring situation in MontérégieIt is in Montérégie that the situation is the most glaring, confirms the director of youth protection of the region, Marie-Josée Audet. As of January 7, more than 800 children were waiting for an assessment. "This is the first time we have reached such high levels. When we saw these numbers come in, we were very worried," she says. Nearly a month after the return of the holidays,
the Montérégie still has 603 children waiting.
In Estrie, the waiting list now exceeds 600 names. "Is that a comfortable number? Not at all," says Stéphanie Jetté, director of youth protection for the Eastern Townships. In Mauricie, the waiting list has also reached a peak with 521 young people, confirms the spokesperson of the CISSS de la Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec, Guillaume Cliche.
In Montreal, the waiting list remains stubbornly stable. In October 2021, Montreal's director of youth protection, Assunta Gallo, said she was consumed by concern about an "unprecedented" situation: the waiting list for the assessment exceeded 400 names at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. A little more than two years later, the list is at... 449 names. With the addition of the English-speaking Batshaw sector, more than 800 children are awaiting assessment in Montreal.
Lack of staffIn the dock: again and again, the shortage of staff. Some 60 full-time equivalent positions are planned for evaluation at the CIUSSS de l'Estrie. Only 30 and 35 are filled. In short, at least 40% of the staff is missing. "It's considerable," agreesMs. Jetté. In Montérégie, some teams now have 6 stakeholders out of a possible 19. "A critical situation," agreesMs. Audet.
Figures obtained by La Presse show that the "real capacity" for evaluation is extremely low. Across Quebec, the "theoretical capacity" for evaluation is 820 stakeholders. But the "actual capacity" is 368 people. A gap of 452 workers. "In short, there are more people absent or missing than people in office. This gives the real measure of the problem of shortage of personnel, "says a well-informed source.
Lionel Carmant, Minister responsible for Social Services
Minister Carmant's office argues that across Quebec, we have managed to add 83 full-time workers to the evaluation in the last 12 months. "A 6% increase in the workforce," says Lambert Drainville, Mr. Carmant's press secretary.
Ongoing reformIn order to curb this list, four integrated health and social services centres have decided to experiment with new ways of doing things in the evaluation-orientation sector. The two functions, previously held by the same social worker, will now be split. The policy function will be entrusted to another sector, usually that of the implementation of measures.
The idea is to share the task, which would free up time for the evaluator. The ways of doing things that we have been using for years are no longer enough to meet our responsibilities.
Marie-Josée Audet, Director of Youth Protection for Montérégie
The College of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists opposes this type of "gymnastics." The president of the order, Pierre-Paul Malenfant, believes that "we are asked to authorize things that are illegal under the Professional Code." To curb the waiting list, Mr. Malenfant says he gave special authorizations, in return for on-the-job training, to about twenty workers at the DPJ Batshaw.
In his view, that is the way it should be done.
On the ground, this type of pilot project, which has begun in several regions, raises many apprehensions. Stakeholders are concerned about inheriting three new cases per week rather than just one, as is currently the norm. "For us, it's a mass assignment in disguise," says one worker on an evaluation-orientation team. "Management is facing a visceral reaction. This is unheard of. »
"We had the tragedy of the little girl from Granby," says another evaluation worker who confided in us. It is clear that there will be another one. We just don't know when, and we just hope it won't be in our caseload. »
THE 5 REGIONS WITH THE LONGEST WAITING LIST FOR ASSESSMENT (AS OF JANUARY 21)
KATIA GAGNONTHE PRESSTwo weeks later, as of January 21, the list is still at an "important and high" level, with 4714 names, says the office of the minister responsible for social services, Lionel Carmant. The situation is critical, says Robert Comeau, president of the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique en santé et services sociaux (APTS), the union that brings together DYP stakeholders.
"If abuse were a virus, we would be in a national emergency right now," he said. We are very concerned about these figures. Behind each of these 5000,<> cases, there is a potential for deterioration. And we risk escaping it. »
André Lebon, former vice-president of the Laurent commission
"This is highly worrying," said former commission vice-president Laurent André Lebon. When the Select Committee on Children's Rights and Youth Protection submitted its report almost two years ago, the waiting list was 3500.
Service pressure is currently at an all-time high, and with staff shortages, our ability to respond is at an all-time low.
André Lebon, former vice-president of the Laurent commission
Quebec has been trying for years to reduce this waiting list. Codes 1 and 2, which are considered urgent, are processed within 24 or 48 hours. Codes 3 are on this list. Reports that affect these children have been retained and must now be assessed to determine if the children's health and safety are at risk. For this, they sometimes have to wait for long weeks.
Glaring situation in MontérégieIt is in Montérégie that the situation is the most glaring, confirms the director of youth protection of the region, Marie-Josée Audet. As of January 7, more than 800 children were waiting for an assessment. "This is the first time we have reached such high levels. When we saw these numbers come in, we were very worried," she says. Nearly a month after the return of the holidays,
the Montérégie still has 603 children waiting.
In Estrie, the waiting list now exceeds 600 names. "Is that a comfortable number? Not at all," says Stéphanie Jetté, director of youth protection for the Eastern Townships. In Mauricie, the waiting list has also reached a peak with 521 young people, confirms the spokesperson of the CISSS de la Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec, Guillaume Cliche.
In Montreal, the waiting list remains stubbornly stable. In October 2021, Montreal's director of youth protection, Assunta Gallo, said she was consumed by concern about an "unprecedented" situation: the waiting list for the assessment exceeded 400 names at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. A little more than two years later, the list is at... 449 names. With the addition of the English-speaking Batshaw sector, more than 800 children are awaiting assessment in Montreal.
Lack of staffIn the dock: again and again, the shortage of staff. Some 60 full-time equivalent positions are planned for evaluation at the CIUSSS de l'Estrie. Only 30 and 35 are filled. In short, at least 40% of the staff is missing. "It's considerable," agreesMs. Jetté. In Montérégie, some teams now have 6 stakeholders out of a possible 19. "A critical situation," agreesMs. Audet.
Figures obtained by La Presse show that the "real capacity" for evaluation is extremely low. Across Quebec, the "theoretical capacity" for evaluation is 820 stakeholders. But the "actual capacity" is 368 people. A gap of 452 workers. "In short, there are more people absent or missing than people in office. This gives the real measure of the problem of shortage of personnel, "says a well-informed source.
Lionel Carmant, Minister responsible for Social Services
Minister Carmant's office argues that across Quebec, we have managed to add 83 full-time workers to the evaluation in the last 12 months. "A 6% increase in the workforce," says Lambert Drainville, Mr. Carmant's press secretary.
Ongoing reformIn order to curb this list, four integrated health and social services centres have decided to experiment with new ways of doing things in the evaluation-orientation sector. The two functions, previously held by the same social worker, will now be split. The policy function will be entrusted to another sector, usually that of the implementation of measures.
The idea is to share the task, which would free up time for the evaluator. The ways of doing things that we have been using for years are no longer enough to meet our responsibilities.
Marie-Josée Audet, Director of Youth Protection for Montérégie
The College of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists opposes this type of "gymnastics." The president of the order, Pierre-Paul Malenfant, believes that "we are asked to authorize things that are illegal under the Professional Code." To curb the waiting list, Mr. Malenfant says he gave special authorizations, in return for on-the-job training, to about twenty workers at the DPJ Batshaw.
In his view, that is the way it should be done.
On the ground, this type of pilot project, which has begun in several regions, raises many apprehensions. Stakeholders are concerned about inheriting three new cases per week rather than just one, as is currently the norm. "For us, it's a mass assignment in disguise," says one worker on an evaluation-orientation team. "Management is facing a visceral reaction. This is unheard of. »
"We had the tragedy of the little girl from Granby," says another evaluation worker who confided in us. It is clear that there will be another one. We just don't know when, and we just hope it won't be in our caseload. »
THE 5 REGIONS WITH THE LONGEST WAITING LIST FOR ASSESSMENT (AS OF JANUARY 21)
- Montreal: 858
- Montérégie: 666
- Eastern Townships: 617
- Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec: 521
- Laurentians: 378
- Quebec total: 4714
