For the first time in “almost twenty years”, the Youth Protection Directorate (DPJ) recorded a drop in reports received compared to the previous year. Quick overview, in figures, of the main findings of the regional directors’ report, submitted on Tuesday.
In total, nearly 135,000 separate reports were filed with the DPJ in 2023-2024. A very slight drop of 0.9% compared to around 136,000 the previous year. Although minimal, this reduction is a first in “nearly two decades,” according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
As for the number of files retained by the DPJ (almost 42,400), it has barely changed a bit compared to 2022-2023 (a little less than 43,000). The percentage of Quebec children who have been the subject of at least one report has increased very slightly, from 6.06% in 2022-2023 to 6.13% the following year.
In the eyes of the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, the tiny drop in processed reports represents overall “good news”. According to his office, this is proof that the treatment and monitoring of young people before the DPJ, in particular through the Act early program, is starting to bear fruit.
Domestic violence, a factor
Another observation from regional DYPs: domestic violence is generating an increasingly high number of reports in Quebec. According to data collected in 2023-2024, cases brought to the attention of the DPJ for “exposure to domestic violence” experienced their largest increase in a decade (15%).
“In 2023, reports of exposure to domestic violence accounted for 12.5% of all reports received. In Quebec, this represents one report in eight or 47 reports per day,” summarizes the DYP results for last year.
Since last year, exposure to domestic violence has been included in the Youth Protection Act as a factor of compromise for children. According to the report released Tuesday, however, “it is difficult to measure the impact of the legislative changes on the DYP’s intervention with exposed children, due to the short period that has elapsed since their entry into force.”