Few professions are practiced seven days a week, day and night. “Besides, ‘foster family’ is aptly named, since I could not welcome children placed with me without the support of my husband and my two own children. Many professionals are throwing in the towel, because their mission, increasingly difficult, affects their loved ones too much”, explains Isabelle Philippe, who has worked as a family assistant for seven years, in her house in Ambarès-et-Lagrave, 20 kilometers from Bordeaux. “A true vocation!” says the young woman, who is currently welcoming three children aged 6 months to 7 years. “Today, those who are starting out in the profession are much more left to their own devices due to a glaring lack of staff,” she sighs. “At the same time, our tasks are increasingly difficult: domestic violence has exploded, the number of children in care is clearly increasing and many need significant medical monitoring,” continues her husband, Emmanuel, who has just ended his career as a police officer at the call center at 17 of the Bordeaux police station, in order to take up a job as a family assistant.
“Feeling useful” is the driving force behind this couple on the ground. A mission that is always complex, according to most professionals and specialists in the sector. Almost all provide an alarming overview of child protection, which is responsible for 370,000 minors throughout the country. The announcements by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday, November 20, as part of the plan to combat violence against minors were particularly awaited. Certain measures specifically concern child protection: a “protected schooling” system, “a real roadmap between school and child protection stakeholders”, which includes in particular the appointment of referents and the systematization of educational interviews at ages 15 and 17 for the children concerned; the appointment of 10 departmental child protection delegates, placed with prefects, deployment aimed at being generalized; or even a “financial boost” of 1,500 euros for young people leaving child welfare (ASE), automatically received at the age of majority… So many avenues considered disappointing by most players in the sector. “I am not disappointed, I am angry! These announcements absolutely do not respond to the reality of the needs of the children concerned,” says Jean-Luc Gleyze, president (PS) of the Gironde department, who has been fighting on this issue since several years.
Because, in this territory, as elsewhere in France, services are saturated. In Gironde, 12,000 children benefited from protection measures in 2015, there are 15,000 today. Eight years ago, 3,500 of them were in placement, there are now 5,800. The situation is so tense that 200 children, whose placement was nevertheless ordered by the courts, cannot be removed from their homes family despite the risks of abuse incurred. “The budget that we devote to child protection has increased by 65% in eight years. It represents the most important item in the community, i.e. 310 million euros,” insists Jean-Luc Gleyze, while explaining having now reached a “breaking point” and calling for the responsibility of the State, which he describes as “the worst parent in France”. “The departments responsible for social assistance for children can only carry out their missions correctly if the tasks assigned to the State at the same time are really carried out, particularly in the health sector. However, this is not the case,” he denounces.
More and more young children and babies
If the Gironde department has 1,193 places in medical-educational institutes, 852 children supposed to enter are today on the waiting list. While waiting to join an establishment adapted to their needs, they are entrusted to child protection. The same goes for those who should but cannot be supported by the judicial youth protection services. Added to this is the shortage of health professionals, particularly in the field of child psychiatry, which means that the delays in requesting follow-up for child victims of abuse, sometimes suffering from multiple trauma, are lengthening. “The children we are talking about are at the crossroads of several public services: that of child protection, of course, but also those of education, health and justice. They are the first victims of a system which, unfortunately, is failing everywhere”, summarizes Thierry Herrant, of Ufnafaam, a federation which brings together host family associations.
Added to all these tension factors is the question of the care of unaccompanied minors (UMAs). At the end of September, the Territoire de Belfort department took the unprecedented decision to suspend the reception of these isolated foreign children, due to lack of sufficient reception capacity. “Which is illegal and goes against the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to which any minor in difficult situation must benefit from a measure of protection whatever their situation, background or origin,” protests Jean-Luc Gleyze, while, in his department, unaccompanied minors represent 10% of the workforce supported by the ASE.
Another phenomenon highlighted by all professionals: homes and foster families are seeing more and more young children and babies arriving. Proof for some that the communication campaign around 119, the national number dedicated to the prevention and protection of children in danger, is bearing fruit. Just like the government plan dedicated to the child’s first 1,000 days. For others, it is above all a sign of increasing insecurity and social difficulties. Franck Bottin, director of the Departmental Center for Children and Families (CDEF) of Gironde, affirms that his accommodation services are today at more than 120% occupancy rate. “The nursery, which has 35 places, has welcomed between 45 and 49 babies since February,” confirms the manager.
In 2019, a documentary of the show Exhibits, on France 3, had brought to light acts of violence within the Eysines home, managed by the CDEF, pointing out in particular the lack of resources and skills necessary to manage young people suffering from psychiatric disorders. What measures have been put in place since then? “We continued the work which had begun even before the broadcast of the documentary and which consisted of reducing the number of children accommodated by the Eysines home alone. Several houses were notably purchased by the department in order to better distribute them and to reduce the number of staff in each unit”, responds Franck Bottin, for whom the problem of “overactivity” persists and remains problematic.
“A system running out of steam”
On September 1, in an open letter addressed to Charlotte Caubel, Secretary of State for Children, 24 department presidents called for the establishment of general statements of child protection and denounced “a system breathless”. “I do not believe in states general which re-examine everyone on difficulties which are already known, said the latter in an interview granted to Figaro, last October 11. But we are in a political moment which raises the question of the alliance between the State and the departments to enable priorities to be established in order to emerge from this period of tension.”
During the interview, the Secretary of State said she was ready to “consider” recentralizing child protection, saying she was “committed to ensuring that all minors are treated equally”. A very bad idea for Jean-Luc Gleyze, for whom “Jacobinism is not a factor of republican equality”. “And then all the departments agree that the ASE must remain decentralized, because this is how we are closest to the needs of families and children,” he adds.
In 2015, the Gironde department had 800 host families, there are only 620 today. Same situation of shortage for specialized educators: last year, the regional institute of social work, which trains future professionals in New Aquitaine, recorded a drop in registrations of 25 to 30%. And more and more students are abandoning their studies mid-course. “When I took the exam, thirteen years ago, the selection was tough, we had to work hard to join this training. But, since then, the admission method has changed. Everything goes through Parcoursup, and many young people embark on this path without really realizing the reality of the profession”, explains Barbara Trainaud, specialized educator, now coordinator at the CDEF de la Gironde. As in many other sectors, the Covid crisis has also raised awareness. “Many social workers have realized that they no longer want to work odd hours and be so poorly paid. They prefer to change professional sectors,” notes the young woman. According to her, it is impossible to attract new recruits without a salary increase for all these essential social workers in the field. And Franck Bottin adds: “Even if we create new reception places, if no one is there to supervise the children, the situation will remain blocked.”
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