New annual report of the DPJ, distressing new figures. Quebec reaches a record number of reports at more than 135,000. The reports retained have decreased slightly, but remain well above the 40,000 mark.
So we have in Quebec, for a population of 8 million, more than 40,000 cases of abandoned, neglected, mistreated or abused children. This is huge and inexplicable in a society that is supposed to be wealthy and educated on a planetary scale.
Obviously, we should be happy to see people file a complaint in the face of the unacceptable rather than submitting to an omerta. Nevertheless, we do not have the right to collectively get used to such a state of affairs. Behind every report, there is a child who has suffered.
Like every year, the headline of the large number of reports to the DPJ leads to another. The DPJ lacks resources. More staff are needed and it is difficult to recruit these years.
Far be it from me to deny the current manpower needs of Youth Protection. More than 4,000 children are currently waiting for services. And we still fear that another girl from Granby will find herself on these lists awaiting attention.
sad gear
However, I ask a question that we never hear. Are we doomed to let this infernal gear turn: no more abused children, no more cases at the DYP, no more personnel needed at the DYP?
Accuse me of formulating a simplistic proposal, but I dream of a Quebec that takes better care of its children! I dream of simply seeing the number of reports decrease. In a society with a good standard of living, with social programs for all situations, with varied support resources, we could aim for that.
We will never reach zero reporting, the world is not perfect. But almost 43,000 retained because considered serious, we could do better. Or hurt less.
It seems to me that this would be a noble project around which to mobilize schools, social services and the health network. Let’s add community organizations, employers, municipalities, just to join hands so that in Quebec, we take better care of our children.
Prevention
In Régine Laurent’s report on the DPJ, commissioned after the death of the little girl from Granby, we forget the chapter which precedes those concerning the improvements to the DPJ. A chapter dealing with prevention. Helping parents, providing them with easy-to-reach lifelines when they are going through troubled times.
If it is desirable to act more in prevention in several areas, imagine when it comes to child abuse.
If within a few years we had 10,000 fewer cases at the DYP, the staff in place would be sufficient and could offer the appropriate follow-ups.
And 10,000 fewer children would live with physical or psychological scars.