The number of reports to the Youth Protection Department (DPJ) has reached new heights in Montreal in the past year, and nearly one in five is due to exposure to domestic violence. Meanwhile, more than a third of speaker positions are vacant.
Published at 12:45 p.m.
Updated at 2:39 p.m.
The number of reports whose motive is exposure to domestic violence has more than doubled in 10 years in Quebec, revealed on 21e 2023-2024 report of the DPJ, unveiled Tuesday.
“And I think it will be even worse next year,” believes Mathilde Trou, co-responsible for political issues at the Group of Homes for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, present at the announcement.
Since April 2023, exposure to domestic violence has been a reason for compromise in its own right in the processing of files at the DPJ, which has allowed a more in-depth analysis of the problem. This was explained by the director of youth protection at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Ms.me Assunta Gallo, at a press conference.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Annual review of Montreal’s youth protection directors, Assunta Gallo (CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l’île-de-Montréal) and Linda See (CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-L’île-de-Montréal) )
In Montreal, the ratio is alarming: out of 21,084 reports – or 1,300 more than last year – there are 3,813 cases involving exposure to domestic violence.
These findings pushed the DPJ to make domestic violence the theme of its report this year.
The objective? “Bring domestic violence out of the privacy of private places, raise awareness among the population, break the silence, because it still remains a taboo subject,” said Ms.me Gallo.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Assunta Gallo
In Quebec, of the 134,871 reports received this year, more than 17,000 have a reason for exposure to domestic violence. Even if the total number of reports in the province does not reach the 135,839 recorded last year, it represents an increase of 57% over 10 years.
Pressure on staff
Data from the 21ste assessment of the DPJ revealed that the problems linked to the shortage of manpower in the health and social services sector have worsened.
Out of 101 worker positions for assessing the situation of children at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud, 30 were vacant last June. This year, six more positions are to be filled.
“The labor shortage we are currently experiencing is still important,” conceded M.me Gallo. Despite the efforts that are made, I know that the stakeholders share the pressure they are experiencing. »
The DPJ intends to implement various recruitment methods, particularly among students and staff from other services of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud.
