Our children, our future

The wealth and future of a nation, children are at the heart of every society’s values and actions. They must be accompanied and supported throughout their growth process and more especially when difficulties occur that could hinder their healthy development.

In Québec, there are close to 1,500,000 young persons under the age of eighteen. The large majority will find within the family and surrounding environment the necessary resources to ensure healthy development and well-being.

By contrast, studies led by Québec researchers show that 10-15% of these young persons will experience adaptation difficulties during the course of development. In most cases, these are temporary situations. With sufficiently quick and intensive support and accompaniment intervention, these young persons will receive an individualized response and short term solutions to identified needs of the youngster and his or her family.

Support and accompaniment must issue initially from resources in the young person’s social environment:

• Teachers and other professionals in the school system: psychologist, psycho-educator, substitute teacher, etc.
• Community resources and organizations: youth centres, support groups, associations, etc.
• Local services: leisure sports, cultural organizations, groups, camps, etc.
• CLSC professionals: youth and family support through a range of activities and services.

When, however, problematic situations continue, worsen or their intensity threatens to compromise the child’s development or security (this is where the scientific nomenclature begins to refer to the phenomenon of maltreatment), Québec is equipped with a mechanism for reporting to the Direction de la Protection de la Jeunesse (Youth Protection Act) to ensure the security and protection of all Québec children.

For the year 2005-2006, Québec youth centres received 68,036 reports. Almost half – 31,972 or 47% – are retained and become the object of more intensive assessment when there is fear for the child’s safety or development. Evaluations of these cases show that problems experienced by young people under youth protection are distributed as follows:

• Neglect (57%)
• Behaviour problems (19%)
• Physical abuse (13%)
• Sexual abuse (9%)
• Parental abandonment (1%)

As for young persons whose reports are not retained, it has been confirmed that help and support needs remain nonetheless significant and may require individualized intervention conforming to needs – according to a 2002 study of the Institut de recherche sur le développement social des jeunes, directed by Marc Tourigny of the Marie-Vincent Interuniversity Chair on child sexual abuse.

Statistics show that 85% of behavioural problems concern adolescents, while 80% of neglect, physical and sexual abuse affect primarily children under 12. It is on this age group and problematic—maltreatment—that the Marie-Vincent Foundation’s action and efforts are focused.

Given the extent of difficulties experienced and ever-growing lack of resources, we deemed it necessary to invest our energy in strong alternative solutions for these young victims undergoing suffering and trauma for which, if nothing is done, there exists the danger of devastating impacts throughout the course of their lives.

To better understand the problematic of maltreatment, the Foundation has asked professionals in the field to describe its main manifestations:

• Neglect
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Psychological Violence
• Children Who Witness Conjugal Violence
• Shaken Baby Syndrome

In Québec, the main actors engaged in providing services to children in difficulty and their families are committed to respecting the following principles:

• Every parent is the primary person responsible for ensuring the child’s protection.
• Every child has a right to protection, respect for his/her integrity, security and the attention that his/her parents, or those taking their place, should provide. 
• Every child, in accordance with his/her age, should be sensitized to abusive acts to be able to recognize them and react accordingly.
• Every childhood victim of abuse has the right to receive the assistance and help required by his/her condition. 
• Every act of sexual abuse, physical maltreatment or serious lack of care that threatens the child’s physical health is a criminal act.
• Every author of abuse, whether minor or major, is responsible for his/her violent behaviour. 
• Every adult is responsible for bringing assistance to a child abuse victim, without presuming that another person may have already taken measures to ensure his/her protection. 

In conclusion, the protection and optimal development of our children is a matter of collective responsibility. Moreover, every adult should be concerned at all times with the well-being and future of our young citizens.

Émilie Girouard, Bachelor of Psychoeducation

in collaboration with

Program Coordinator
Mental Health, Youth Cognitive Impairment
CSSS Montreal West Island
Member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors