The national director of youth protection, Catherine Lemay, recognizes that the modifications to the Youth Protection Act concerning the transition to adult life are still applied “with variable geometry”, as has been observed The duty, who took the pulse of the field. However, she assures that everything is in place so that the law is anchored in the reality on the ground, but that time must be given.
“We have deployed several measures in recent years, but before all these measures are 100% effective, it will still take some time,” she explains in an interview by videoconference.
Yes, some young people refuse the support offered, but the DPJ made sure to keep several doors open so that they can come back for help if they change their mind before they turn 26, she assures. .
She gives the example of “open areas”, a service that is being deployed in Quebec to allow young people “disaffiliated from the system” to obtain one-off services in physical health, mental health or social services. “Even if, at the start, the young person said to himself: ‘the youth centers, you have controlled me all my life, it’s over’, there is this option available to him. »
Pilot projects for autonomy
Asked about the fact that on the ground, we see no improvement in terms of autonomy (see other text), Catherine Lemay assures that “very practical elements” have been added to the new transition plans harmonized throughout the country. Quebec so that workers can ensure that a young person is able to “cook an egg” and “do the grocery shopping” on their own before leaving the youth center.
Several pilot projects are also underway, adds her colleague Isabelle Lavertu, provincial coordinator of the Youth Qualification Program. “Sometimes, young people are more or less open when we tell them, like a good parent: “you should learn to do that”. They answer: “well no, I am capable”. But when they spend a few days in a trial apartment, it allows them to see that, ultimately, it’s harder than they thought. »
As for the aspect of communications with community organizations that take over to help young people in their transition, the national director ensures that training is continuously available and that the directives are clear. “But as in all professions, not everyone is at the same level in their career, in their ease of communicating and in their interpretation of the confidentiality line,” she explains. Training doesn’t solve everything. »
She ensures that changes will occur as stakeholders gain experience and confidence. “We have launched major changes in practice, we have given ourselves a legislative framework, the means to get there, tools, but we cannot pull on a flower so that it grows. You have to give yourself time,” she concludes.