why MPs are launching an investigation into the “failings” of the current system

The time for the first auditions has arrived. Thirty deputies from all sides will launch, on Tuesday May 14, the work of the commission of inquiry into shortcomings in child protection policies. Over the coming months, this body will seek to “shedding light on the dysfunctions of child welfare” and to pave the way for “a major reform” of the sector, according to the elected representatives of the socialist group in the National Assembly, at the origin of this initiative. Franceinfo explains to you why the deputies decided to look into this subject.

Recent tragedies have reignited the debate

The debate on the accommodation of young people on child welfare (ASE) was relaunched at the end of January, after the death of Lily, a 15-year-old girl found hanged in a hotel in Puy-de-Dôme where she had been placed. Before her, in October, Méline, 11 years old, was also found dead in her room at an association home in Oise. These tragedies, far from being isolated, aroused the indignation of child rights activists, who denounced the inaction of the State and the departments responsible for child protection.

“All the indicators are red”estimated the socialist deputies in March, announcing the creation of this commission. “Professionals on the front line are too few in number, work in extremely precarious conditions and the structures are unsuitable for welcoming young people with traumatic experiences”they listed.

The initiative of the socialist group was welcomed by the different political camps, notes LCP. Renaissance elected official Nicole Dubré-Chirat thus pointed out an opportunity to seize the “ASE financing problem at department level”while the deputy RN Laure Lavalette underlined the insufficiency “parliamentary work carried out in recent years on the shortcomings of the ASE”.

Former foster children push for reform

The investigation launched at the National Assembly responds to recurring questions to the public authorities by former children of the ASE. As soon as the commission was announced, some of them decided to create the Vigilance Committee for Placed Children, which intends in particular “ensure the quality of the work” led by MPs. “The idea is to impose our voiceexplained one of the founders of the committee, Lyes Louffok. We must move away from the usual dialogue between State and departments, which systematically forget the expertise of those primarily concerned who have experienced the system.”

Claiming more than 200 members, the committee will be the first actor auditioned on Tuesday, represented by Lyes Louffok, Diodio Métro and Anne-Solène Taillardat. They intend to address violence in homes and foster families, the lack of controls or even the abandonment of certain young people as soon as they become adults. At the end of the parliamentary work, “if the report does not suit us”, “we will propose a counter-report”warns Lyes Louffok. “Afterwards, obviously, it will be up to the government to carry out all the reforms it deems necessary and we will see to it from start to finish.”

Social workers say they are “abandoned”

The commission of inquiry created at the National Assembly also echoes the alerts launched by professionals in the sector, notably in a column published by The world in March. “We need a strong and rapid commitment from the State in favor of social workers”too few in number and poorly paid, wrote some 200 signatories, including dozens of specialized educators. “Leaving the profession of child protection social worker abandoned today is a mistake”they denounced.

Many structures are slowing down due to a lack of available professionals and the problem of lack of places is increasing. A survey by the Magistrates’ Union, in which 176 of the 522 children’s judges in France participated, highlighted “at least 3,335 unexecuted placements in France”meaning so many children forced to stay with their families, despite the danger they face. “To the unexecuted placements are added the poorly executed placements”completes the union, evoking miners “tossed from place of reception to place of reception and/or accommodated in places not approved by the department, even in hotels or campsites, which is nevertheless prohibited by law”.