Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter
All directors of the Youth Protection Department (YPD) met in Quebec City on June 19 to review the 22nd annual report on the province-wide reporting rate.
In the Outaouais region, specifically, there was a 4% increase. This increase in the number of reports is explained, in part, by the labour shortage in all child and youth protection centres (CYPC) in the region.
According to the information gathered, there are only 28 workers in the assessment service out of 58, representing a staffing level of 48%. The staff shortage is also evident among social work technicians and in other fields. Collette Nadeau, director of the YPD in Outaouais, stated that, despite the staff shortage, no case has been missed.
On the other hand, socio-economic factors related to the Phoenix payroll system, which affected thousands of public servants, could also have had an impact on the increase in reports to the YPD.
Last spring’s floods may also have explained this increase.
“Parents then become much less tolerant and patient with their children,” says Michelyne Gagné, director of the YPD in Outaouais. “It’s in these situations that they can lose control, hit their children, or neglect them, because they are exhausted and preoccupied.”
However, although there are increasing reports, only 34% of cases have been retained for intervention. In other words, approximately one-third of the reports were deemed sufficiently serious. According to the YPD, a child’s safety or development is considered at risk if there is:
– Abandonment
– Neglect or high risk of neglect
– Psychological abuse
– Direct or indirect exposure to domestic violence
– Abuse or risk of sexual abuse
– Abuse or risk of physical abuse
– Presence of serious behavioral problems
– Child running away
– And more
For more information on reporting to the YPD: https://www.quebec.ca/famille-et-soutien-aux-personnes/enfance/services-jeunes-difficulte-famille/protection-de-la-jeunesse/faire-un-signalement-au-dpj/motives-de-signalement
Photo: Directors of the Youth Protection Department (YPD) gathered in Quebec City for the 22nd annual review (June 19, 2025) (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the CIUSSS du Centre Sud de l’île de Montréal