the challenge of social assistance for children in Haute-Vienne

A new place to live for young people in difficulty will soon be opened in Aixe-sur-Vienne. A reception structure which is added to the department's system, while the number of placements has continued to increase for ten years in Haute-Vienne.

“Le jardin de Gaïa” will soon welcome seven young people in difficulty in Aixe-sur-Vienne, near Limoges. The first stone of this future center was symbolically laid this Wednesday by the president of the Haute-Vienne departmental council, Jean-Claude Leblois.

This structure will be managed by the Espace Familial 87 association, one of the many components that participate in Child Social Assistance, for families who have educational or material difficulties.

Here, in a few months, seven young people (adolescents and young adults), at odds with their original environment, will be able to benefit from the help of professionals and members of the EF 87 association to find means of integration social, educational and professional.

This new structure (the purchase and renovation of a building) was 80% financed by CD 87, or 711,200 euros in subsidies paid to the Espace Familial 87 association.

In total, 1022 reception places distributed among 493 families, 71 places in living spaces (LVA) and reception areas (e.g. the “Gaia garden”), 145 places in Social Children's Homes (MECS), 65 in emergency structures, 188 in dedicated structures and finally 60 places in educational placements at home.

Since the health crisis, the deterioration of family situations, the precariousness of young people, the saturation of reception and support systems, the recruitment crisis, the exhaustion of professional teams are aggravating an already critical situation.

In 2024, the departmental council of Haute-Vienne has dedicated a little less than 12% of its overall budget, or 49.9 million euros (out of 585 million) to support its policy and its social and medico-social organization plan. , one of the main aspects of which concerns child protection policy.

In Corrèze, the amount allocated by the community amounts to €29 million, or 6.4% of the operating budget.

In Haute-Vienne, according to the latest figures from INSEE, we observe that there were 2,458 child welfare measures in 2024, including 1,278 children or adolescents monitored at home, and 1,180 placement measures. in host families or establishments like “Le jardin de Gaïa”, which will soon open its doors in Aixe-sur-Vienne.

Concerning investments, the situation is getting worse from year to year. In ten years, they have increased by 42%, a situation which has accelerated since the Covid crisis.

More generally, when we analyze INSEE data, it is chilling to note that 3% of children under the age of 19 in the department (i.e. around 2,300 young people) were subject to measures of detention. Social Assistance for Children in 2024, including half, were aged 6 and 11!

Contrary to popular belief, the intervention of the ASE does not systematically mean the removal of the child from his family. Indeed, Child Welfare can propose measures at home, defined as part of a project for the child.

In the event of daily difficulties in raising a child, meeting their needs in terms of safety, health and education, firstly, you must contact a departmental solidarity space (EDS), which will support parents in finding the most appropriate assistance.

The first step in supporting Child Welfare is the development of a “Project for the Child” (PPE). This project specifies the actions that will be carried out with the child and the parents.