Youth Protection Services plead for stronger social safety net

Quebec's Youth Protection Services are calling for a strengthened social safety net to better support struggling families and children.

The annual report from youth protection directorates across Quebec, presented Thursday morning, shows that social pressures have created increasingly complex situations for families in recent years. More than half of children in the system show signs of social anxiety affecting their development and academic success, according to the report.

Lesley Hill, National Director of Child Protection, said the crisis requires a broader societal response. "We need to do something, but together as a society. We need to reach out to other networks—daycares, community organizations, schools, citizens—because everyone has a role to play in protecting children."

The report titled "Children: still a priority?" revealed that 144,321 reports involved 107,273 children in 2025-2026—representing 6.4 per cent of all those under 18 in the province. Neglect and serious risk of neglect account for nearly half of intervention cases.

Directors are urging public authorities to invest more in basic needs like food, housing, and adequate income, while strengthening prevention services and better supporting children's living environments including schools and daycares.