By saying that “the measures already exist” to prevent homelessness among young people from the DPJ, the national director of youth protection made the former vice-president of the Laurent commission jump. André Lebon considers these remarks “simplistic” and even “dangerous”, because the data show that the current programs are far from sufficient.
Last week, Radio-Canada reported the results of a shock study according to which 33% of former young people from the Department of Youth Protection (DPJ) had experienced at least one episode of homelessness before the age of 21 years old.
Called to react, the national director of youth protection, Catherine Lemay, had affirmed that the prevention of homelessness it’s nothing new to the DPJ and that there is recognized programs that do their job well.
I have a problem with itreplies André Lebon, who was Régine Laurent’s right-hand man during the Special Commission on Children’s Rights and Youth Protection, whose report was tabled in 2021.
” We cannot consider ourselves satisfied with what we are already doing because the portrait we are presented with is that young people fail when they leave institutionalization! “
Ms. Lemay supported her statement by citing the example of the Youth Qualification Program (PQJ), which prepares teenagers in the DPJ in their transition to adult life.
Recently, Minister Lionel Carmant announced his intention to make this program accessible to as many young people as possible, as recommended by the Laurent commission.
However, the Laurent commission also proposed to go much further by creating a new post-placement support program, offered up to the age of 25, to help young people with income, housing, schooling and of professional qualifications.
Mr. Lebon therefore judges that Ms. Lemay’s comment is a bit simplistic and considers it to be dangerous to claim that the PQJ will be enough to prevent homelessness.
” She wants to talk about the good news, but in doing so, it’s as if she’s implying that we’re in control of the situation and that we’re doing what is necessary to correct it. A lot of adjustments are missing for it to be corrected! “
It worries me a lot
Another important figure in the Laurent commission, former commissioner Lesley Hill, also jumped when he learned of the remarks of the national director of youth protection.
What is problematic in my opinion is that it seems presented as the only solution to the needs of these young people in terms of transition to adult lifesaid Ms. Hill in reference to the PQJ.
When I hear this solution put forward as if it were an end, it worries me enormously.she says.
” It’s as if we had forgotten all the other recommendations [de la commission Laurent]which are extremely important, and I would even like to say more important! “
According to Ms. Hill, the PQJ offers too ad hoc help. Even if young people need support at age 21, for example, their PQJ counselor can only redirect them to other resources, she says.
We will have PQJ workers who receive calls [comme celui-ci :] “I’m in trouble, I’m in the street, I don’t have housing”, but if we don’t have social housing, if we don’t have solutions, it’s the worker and the young person that we defeat! she illustrates.
Mrs Hill is of the opinion that there remains a long way to go through for the DYP to offer the same degree of support as other provinces or other countries after the age of 18.
Equipping the community
Psychiatrist Amal Abdel-Baki, who works with homeless youth with addiction and mental health issues, says more than half of her patients have gone through foster care, youth center or by a group home.
While the PQJ has certainly enabled many young ex-placed people to prepare for their transition to adulthood, Dr. Abdel-Baki maintains that the majority of her patients have never had access to it. However, it is precisely they who are the most vulnerable.
What would sadden me is to say that we already have the right programs and that all we need to do is expand them.laments Dr. Abdel-Baki.
” [Le PQJ] was created for young people who were ready to participate and collaborate. It was perhaps less suitable for young people who were in the contesting phase. “
We know that young people who have experienced trauma, young people who have been placed in care, young people who have experienced abuse, often tend to react to authority with, for example, behaviors of opposition or mistrust.she explains.
Dr. Abdel-Baki affirms that the community environment is sometimes better suited than the institutions to meet the needs of former youths of the DPJ. However, for them to be able to play their role adequately, they will have to be better funded.
André Lebon adds that the DPJ must not only prepare young people to make the transition to adulthood. We must also review the ways of supervising them in group homes and rehabilitation centres.
the control of young people does not work: we should aim to develop their autonomy, according to Mr. Lebon. Rather than aiming for a high school diploma at all costs, it would be better to help young people acquire skills in a professional field that attracts them, for example.
It would make a huge difference if we applied the recommendations of the Laurent report, believes Mr. Lebon. Just last week, Minister Lionel Carmant repeated that this report will not be tablet.
Source: Radio-Canada
