Hauts-de-Seine: child protection at the heart of the Department

Two years after the launch of its child protection strategythe Department of Hauts-de-Seine provides an update on the progress of its 2022-2026 program. This policywhich aims to “give every child a chance“and to”innovate to better protect“, is now taking shape, with several concrete initiatives.

Maison de l’Avenir, opening in 2026 in Nanterre

At the top of these projects is the House of the Futurean innovative structure of 9.5 million euros financed by Hauts-de-Seine, which is due to open its doors in 2026, in Nanterre. Designed under the direction of child psychiatrist Marcel Rufothis house will accommodate 70 adolescentsincluding 30 in boarding schools and 40 in day care, in a specialized medical-educational framework.

Georges Siffredipresident of the Department, explained: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that these young people, faced with a particularly difficult start to life, can benefit from the same chances of success as all Alto-Séquanais. Like all of our social policies, we are acting to better protect the most vulnerable. It is with this in mind that the Maison de l’Avenir, the prefiguration of which opened in September, was imagined“.

Indeed, since September, a preparatory pavilion has opened, already welcoming 18 young people, thanks to an investment of two million euros from the Department. This structure is managed by the SOS Jeunesse Group, which has the mission to protect and to educate placed adolescentsby meeting their fundamental needs, by creating a secure environment and a relationship of trust with those accompanying them. “The welcome is intended to be as family-friendly as possible, with accommodation in a human-sized pavilion, individualized care and promoting the academic success of the adolescents accompanied.“, clarified the Department.

The prefiguration pavilion currently accommodates six socio-educational guides, a socio-educational facilitator, a psychologist, a school educator, a teacher, a sports instructor, two night watchmen and a housekeeper, who take care of social monitoring and medico-social care of children in care.

Hauts-de-Seine: a budget of 244 million for the ASE

The Department of Hauts-de-Seinedespite a difficult budgetary context, decided to devote a budget of 244 million euros has Social Assistance for Children (ASE) in 2024, an increase of almost 10 % since 2022.”This financial effort aims in particular to increase reception capacities and to offer appropriate monitoring to the 6,098 children taken care of by the ASE. To date, 90% of the 600 places planned for 2026 have already been created“, underlined the Department.

Support for young people also extends to helping them become independent, with innovative tools such as l’application “Future in Hand“, launched in 2023, which helps young people aged 16 to 25 access necessary resources for one successful insertion. Also, the Department launched the Youth Councilallowing young people concerned by child protection “to express themselves about their experiences and contribute to the improvement of public policies in this area“.