Child welfare. “They are left to their own devices,” testifies an educator from the North about 104 children he supervised.

While on Monday October 14, 2024, a large-scale trial opens in Châteauroux which could point to failures in social assistance for children in the North, an investigation into these minors placed under the responsibility of the Department, and housed in what looks like hotels. Several testimonies tell how their supervision is unsuitable. Many children would be left to their own devices.

At the beginning of May 2024, the SUD union of agents of the Department of the North, announced that “five children from Child Welfare (ASE) aged 8 to 13 spent one or several nights in hotels in the department, due to a lack of places available in suitable structures”. When questioned, the president of the Department, Christian Poiret, denied this information. He met Sarah El Haïry, Minister in charge of Children, on May 6.

While on the one hand, Sarah El Haïry, the former Minister for Children, declared: “Today, the law is very clear: I signed the decree prohibiting the placement of children in hotels”Christian Poiret assured him: “Two children were placed urgently for a single night in a place that was not a hotel.” “Afterwards, you believe who you believe…”, he insisted.

>> Also read : Scandal of children from the North placed and mistreated: a pot launched by Mathias’ lawyer before the trial

Indeed, today, structures welcoming children no longer have a commercial sign. The buildings are emptied of the usual clientele. Children are placed there as in Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, or in Roubaix, where we are.

To understand, the Department uses buildings, former hotels, to house young people, unaccompanied and foreign minors or foster children from the territory.

The Northern Department delegates this mission to the Coallia association, which responds by email that:“As an operator of public policies of the State and local authorities, we do not wish to comment on the proposed subject.”

>> Also read : Scandal of children in the North placed in care and mistreated: should we reform child welfare?

Under condition of anonymity, a former employee of this association explains how this reception works.

The association used an intermediary who more or less checks diplomas and, what is more questionable, does not check criminal records. So I could have had a criminal record, whether on any aspect, even related to children, it would not have been checked.

According to him, the problems start with hiring. “The offers appeared an hour after taking up the position, which implies a strong shortage and a huge turnover. The association used an intermediary who more or less verifies the diplomas, and which is more questionable , does not check the criminal record So I could have had a criminal record, whether on any aspect, even in relation to children, it would not have been checked.

What follows is just as edifying. “I arrived on site. No checks again, I could have been anyone. We were two qualified educators, one backup person for 104 children. They are left to their own devices. Sitting on the hotel stairs or in front.”

>> Also read : “Who would spend a single night in this type of structure?” : the SUD union denounces the placement of children from Child Welfare in “shabby hotels”

“I want to go to school and they told me, it’s for the people here. There’s nothing we can do”explains a minor encountered near an accommodation structure.

There is no work on schooling. The response is not to enroll these young people in school, college or high school. And so, they do nothing or almost nothing with their day.

Our educator confirms: “There is no work on schooling. The response is not to enroll these young people in school, middle school or high school. And so, they do nothing or almost nothing with their daytime.”

David Guiraud, MP (LFI) from the North, was a member of the commission of inquiry into child welfare before the dissolution. “We have reports of kids who shouldn’t be there. Kids who fall into prostitution networks. Who fall into drug networks. Who undergo inhuman, degrading treatment. And every time we see young people like that in front of hotel structures, we wonder if they are also affected? There are surely some who are fine, but it is extremely worrying…”.

The Northern Department, when contacted, did not wish to comment for the moment.

With Ophélie Masure, Marie-Noëlle Grimaldi and Alexis Chantoiseau / FTV. Infographic Arthur Mennetret