In the wake of the recommendations of the Laurent commission, Quebec confirms support of $57.5 million granted to the network of community social pediatrics centers (CPSC).
At a press conference on Monday morning, the Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy, and the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, made the announcement alongside Dr.r Gilles Julien in the premises of the CPSC The lane of Hochelaga.
The funds, which had already been announced when the 2023 budget was tabled last March, come from the Ministère de la Famille. They will allow the Foundation Dr Julien to pursue his mission of deploying new CPSCs throughout Quebec.
According to the Dr Julien, the agreement with Quebec provides that to receive all the funds, the foundation must raise the same amount from other sources.
“It’s not easy, but we think we can do it and we’ve done it so far,” he said.
In her speech, Minister Roy indicated that the objective, within four years, was to help more than 15,000 children in vulnerable situations through some fifty centers inspired by Dr.r Julian.
For Minister Lionel Carmant, these services are essential to the healthy development of children. “It’s early intervention in their neurodevelopment, in mental health, it’s supporting their family, and the goal is for them to come to school ready to learn,” he said.
In the words of Dr Julien, it all boils down to the idea “that all children have the same opportunities” and that we never again escape children “who fall between two chairs”.
There are currently 45 certified centers, with more expected to open in the coming years. Saguenay and Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, more specifically the Innu community of Unamen Shipu, as well as Abitibi-Témiscamingue are particularly targeted by the foundation.
The investment is expected to build the capacity of CPSCs and expand their services to areas not yet served.
We also want to improve support for the development of direct care and services for children.
“Nested” services
The Dr Julien describes the services offered by the social pediatrics centers as “nested”, because no one else is able to support children and families in such a complete way.
We offer medical care, psychosocial assistance, child development assistance. We make sure that their rights are respected and, above all, we work to strengthen their self-esteem to encourage them to deploy their full potential.
“It’s a particular approach based on proximity to families,” explains Dr.r Julien, who emphasizes the importance of accepting families.
“They are often judged by different backgrounds, and that prevents them from building with their children because the parents do not feel good,” he continues.
On the contrary, the Dr Julien believes that “most families can do it if we support them well”. The centers will therefore form a protective circle around the child, involving the families. Then, we create a support movement that includes families, but also various community players.
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