I am not happy these days. The present is chaotic and the future uncertain. Vulnerable populations and children in particular are not treated well. They continue to suffer from bad luck. Despite reforms, commissions and research, “A Quebec crazy about its children”, “All responsible for our children”, “Children first” and other beautiful promises, let it be said, nothing is working. .
The institutions are in crisis, the interveners no longer intervene in an optimal way and we still think that by not changing anything profound in our systems, we will still be able to get there. The idea is not to shatter everything and question our achievements, but it is clear that it is time to thoroughly rethink our service offerings for children. We must also collect as many innovative ideas as possible and take action quickly. We can’t wait any longer. There is an emergency, and it concerns us all.
The findings are dramatic, the waiting lists for children in need of protection are constantly growing, the workers no longer find themselves there and abandon the ship.
It is time to innovate and think about the protection of children from all angles, no longer with the single DPJ player, but with many complementary actors in the communities. The establishment of agile and mobile transdisciplinary teams in children’s living environments could allow us to move quickly towards better, more comprehensive and preventive protection for all children.
Child development
It is clearly shown that early stimulation of children, in their early years, guarantees a better quality of life and greater academic success. In more disadvantaged areas, the consequences of developmental delays are immense if they are not quickly taken care of.
Specialized services, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and medical services are not accessible enough, and waiting times are unacceptable. Well-designed childcare services benefit more advantaged children than those in real need of stimulation to succeed. The staff are exhausted, underpaid and resign for lack of recognition and quality of life.
The innovation would be to mobilize and integrate specialized resources in the various places of natural support for families and children, as we do in community social pediatrics centers with day care services, childcare centers, family homes. , schools, etc., to identify and better serve children.
Child care
Our pediatric hospitals are astounding in skills, but their emergencies are overflowing with cases of children who should be treated by available family physicians and, yes, also by trained nurses, psychosocial workers and psychologists.
Our tendency to see health only through the physical spectrum also obscures the spectrum of mental health, which occupies a large part of the needs of young and old.
Health services are expensive (almost 50% of the budget), yet they are only available in small quantities. Why do families have to wait so long to find a doctor? Why do many leave the emergency room without being seen, after 10 to 12 hours of waiting?
Here again, the divestments of the last few years are making themselves felt more and more in the network, and the desperate search for culprits has left more than one, including doctors.
The innovation in this case would be a return to a strong first line 24/7 and at a short distance from patients, with a view to gradation of care. It is time to consider a first line nursing approach for basic physical care and a first line psychosocial for this type of emergency, and this, of course, in direct connection with an interdisciplinary team.
Children’s education
School is the place where one acquires various social skills, knowledge and values. However, she can no longer do it. Often outdated and even toxic, the school has been neglected and unloved for decades, to the point where teachers have run out of steam and exhausted.
The innovation could be to recreate healthy and attractive spaces for children, a second home where they want to learn and create, a place open to parents and mentors, in order to complete the offer of necessary educational services. to develop their full potential, while re-mobilizing teachers around a common, unifying educational project. We all know a teacher who made a difference in our life and who we wanted to please by working harder.
We agree that drastic changes are needed. In medicine, youth protection, education and childcare. We must rediscover the pleasure of helping our children to be well. We must once again feel privileged to be able to contribute to their success. This goes hand in hand with gaining recognition for doing this essential work, for a better society.
And if we can innovate quickly for our children, then maybe I can become a happy man again in the present and have confidence in the future.
What do you think? Express your opinion