Act early, which makes it possible to detect developmental delays in children aged 0 to 5 as quickly as possible, has all of a sudden. Unlike other signature projects of the Legault government — just think of the divisive four-year-old mothers whose painful childbirth is unduly stretched — the program enjoys unanimous support which should have saved it from foul balls and strikes. to allow it to weather dry storms. We learn, however, that the boat is taking on water and that, for several young Quebecers, it even remained at the dock.
The program claims more than 20,000 Quebec children “screened” so far, recently welcomed its architect, Lionel Carmant. A survey of Duty revealed, however, that these figures, while they look good in the notebook of the minister responsible for social services, hide undue delays and unfulfilled promises of intervention.
The window of action is very restricted in early childhood. For a high risk of language difficulties, for example, it should not exceed one to three months, according to experts. Beyond that, there is a great risk of hampering the development of the toddler. With Acting Early, the average wait for speech therapy far exceeds this ideal framework. It is at least 10 months in a dozen regions, with peaks that go up to three years in places, discovered The duty.
This is not only unacceptable, but goes against the main principle of the program: guaranteeing equal opportunities.
In the community, many are no longer shy about renaming the program “Act late”, “Act at a given time” or “Act halfway”. The slip is hard, but not unfair. It is true that the void that the program fills is crucial. Acting early is key to structuring the services offered to our young people. But that does not change the fact that infancy does not wait for the value of years to blossom or wither away. It is played out in the present, each month bringing its share of giant steps to be taken.
Thus, in 2017, just over one in four young Quebecers began kindergarten with a vulnerability in at least one of the five key areas of their development. It is for them that Acting Early was implemented in 2021. This proportion is expected to be even greater in the new Quebec Survey on the Health of Children in Kindergarten, to come this fall.
However, this weight, if it is not taken care of, becomes a millstone that inaction nourishes handsomely. A language problem that is not (or badly) managed can thus lead to behavioral problems, adaptation problems, learning problems, and so on. This litany then risks being invited into the classroom, where the number of children and teenagers dragging intervention plans literally explodes. It is a profitable cycle to break: its effects are indeed destined to last, alleviating suddenly our schools in crisis.
But detecting early is not enough, we must also intervene early. For the proportion of families who only need one-time help and a few lasting tools, Act Early fills this role well. This is an enormous star in Mr. Carmant’s notebook. For heavier cases, however, which would form two-thirds to three-quarters of the children identified, the machine hiccups and blocks too quickly. Told by our reporter Marie-Eve Cousineau, the obstacle course of Joanie Méthot and her four-year-old son eloquently testifies to this.
The “clients” of Agir Premier expose themselves to a common evil in our public networks: the segmentation of services. We must put an end to these barriers erected by prudence, habit or laziness. The child is not a ping-pong ball. We must join him where he is and offer him support wherever he goes. Minister Carmant is the first to dream of a single service trajectory for the children identified by Agir Premier. He also wants the program to be introduced in early childhood centres. We could add to his list the addition of pivotal personnel to bring together all these beautiful people.
If only his government gave him the means to fulfill his ambitions. The CAQ has a keen sense of formula. Her signature projects, she pampers them and sells them with conviction. Acting early is a real star program. Unfortunately, this government is also a flippant parent. As soon as his creation is launched into the universe, his instructions given and his resources distributed, he moves on to the next project without regard for those who must realize his vision on the ground.
What our investigation shows, alas, is that Agir Premier is not fulfilling its promises after two years. We must eliminate waiting lists, reduce paperwork, intensify interventions, structure aid at the level of toddlers and prioritize the most vulnerable, the community and the opposition tell us in echo. All of this is true. But above all, the CAQ must realize that its newborn creatures need its unwavering support to reach their full potential.