Minister Lucie Charlebois launches an action plan on runaways from rehabilitation centres for young people with adjustment problems

Prevention and improved intervention

LAVAL, QC, March 12, 2018 – With the goal of eventually decreasing the number of juvenile runaways and the risks associated with runaways, Lucie Charlebois, Minister responsible for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living, launched an action plan today on runaways from rehabilitation centres for young people with adjustment problems. On this occasion, she was joined by Francine Charbonneau, Minister responsible for the Laval Region, and Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupation, Minister of Public Security and the Minister responsible for the Montréal Region.

The plan outlines priority actions to establish for the improved protection of these youth, while simultaneously providing parents, educators and partners in this sector with tools to better understand the problem of juvenile runaways. It aims to improve the quality of services available and to support participants and administrators at the clinical level, while also increasing collaboration between all partners concerned. In order to carry out this action plan, the Government of Quebec will grant recurring annual funding of $11 million.

Quotes:

The problem of juvenile runaways isn’t a new thing, but it affects everyone. It’s our responsibility to better understand this behaviour exhibited by some teens and to establish actions that will allow us to guide and support them so they can reach their full potential. I am very proud of this plan that places young adults and their families at the heart of our initiative, the outcome of a thorough process where all players concerned showed great collaboration.

– Lucie Charlebois, Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living

The problem of runaways from rehabilitation centres for young people with adjustment problems affects all the regions of Quebec. This situation reminds us of the importance of taking action and finding solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of these young, vulnerable Quebecers. The tangible measures proposed in the action plan will make it possible to improve the quality of services so that they can better assist our youth.

– Francine Charbonneau, Minister responsible for the Laval region

Our teens deserve our full commitment to building a society where they can grow and develop while feeling heard, supported and safe. To effectively combat criminal activities associated with sexual exploitation and to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society, various police forces, organizations and institutions must work together. The action plan announced today will reinforce and complement initiatives that the government already supports.

– Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal Region

Key facts:

More specifically, the plan presents 24 actions grouped under seven main themes:

• Rehabilitation services that are better adapted to youth at risk;
• Personalized intervention that meets youth’s particular needs;
• Committed and supported professionals;
• Collaboration between partners;
• Special focus on runaways and sexual exploitation;
• Knowledge development, assessment and transfer;
• Juvenile runaways from rehabilitation centres, a priority for Quebec.

For each theme, the action plan clearly outlines the associated initiatives and determines which organizations will be responsible for their implementation. Among these initiatives, one in particular concerns the addition of 63 jobs dedicated to providing clinical support for rehabilitation staff. To strengthen collaboration between all partners, the action plan also provides for the creation of formal collaboration agreements as well as the establishment of a liaison officer in each Quebec region to ensure the coordination of these collaborations. A provincial monitoring system on runaways, sexual exploitation and rehabilitation for youth with adjustment problems will also be established.

In 2016, the Minister appointed André Lebon, an independent auditor, to ensure that the Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Locaux de Laval’s rules and counselling procedures were followed as they should be. The report recommendations were reviewed and contributed to the development of the action plan.

Related link:

To consult the action plan: msss.gouv.qc.ca/presse.