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Every year in Quebec, more than 2,000 young people leave the care of the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) as they approach the age of majority. For youth under the care of the DYP<\/em>, turning 18 means having to become independent quickly, with little or no support from loved ones. Their academic background also tends to be less robust than that of peers who have not had to face such a situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The figures are telling: only 37% of youth in care obtain their high school diploma by the age of 21, compared to 86% of the general population of the same age. That graduation rate is two and a half times lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the Chaire-r\u00e9seau de recherche sur la jeunesse du Qu\u00e9bec (CRJ)<\/a> is unveiling the results of a groundbreaking study conducted under the leadership of Mar\u00eda Eugenia Longo<\/a>, professor at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS); Martin Goyette<\/a>, professor at the \u00c9cole nationale d\u2019administration publique (ENAP); and Marie Dumollard, professor at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al. The study also benefited from the invaluable collaboration of M\u00e9lissa Ziani (INRS) and Josiane Picard (ENAP). The report is titled Portrait des jeunes ayant \u00e9t\u00e9 plac\u00e9s sous les services de la protection de la jeunesse et leurs d\u00e9fis en emploi<\/em><\/a> (\u201cA portrait of youth who have been placed under youth protection services and their employment challenges\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report presented by the team reveals a more arduous and precarious path to autonomy for this category of Quebec youth. In addition to quantitative data collected from 1,136 young people who have had a placement overseen by youth protection services, the study also draws on original data gathered through interviews with 30 young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The work was commissioned and funded by the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Emploi et de la Solidarit\u00e9 sociale du Qu\u00e9bec. It combines quantitative data from the \u00c9tude longitudinale sur le devenir des jeunes plac\u00e9s<\/a> (EDJeP, \u201cLongitudinal study on the fate of youth in care\u201d) with the accounts of youth in this situation who were interviewed for the research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the team\u2019s findings showed that EDJeP youth who succeeded in obtaining qualifying post-secondary education were more likely to be working in specialized, skilled jobs by the age of 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among other things, the extensive study found that for young people, it is essential to offer services that are humane, empathetic, flexible, and personalized. Given that their experiences with social services, particularly youth protection services, have not always favoured their autonomy, well-being, or progress, some are reluctant to turn to employment organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe employment difficulties these young people encounter reveal institutional flaws that result in significant disadvantages and social inequalities. To support them properly, it\u2019s vital to address their needs with a view to bettering their circumstances and bolstering their autonomy, work on access to available resources, and improve their living conditions. This must be done in collaboration with employers, who also play a key role in solutions.\u201d <\/p>\nMar\u00eda Eugenia Longo<\/strong><\/a>, professor and researcher in the sociology of work and youth at INRS and co-holder of the Chaire de recherche sur la jeunesse du Qu\u00e9bec.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The research team\u2019s analyses showed that feeling encouraged was directly correlated with achieving a higher level of education. In their accounts, the young people who were interviewed mentioned that social ties both in and out of the workplace (particularly with employers) are key to choosing a job or support service and deciding whether to stay or leave. Having people to turn to seems to play an important role in youths\u2019 employment journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur research shows that young people want to feel welcome and heard and, above all, have their needs, aspirations, agency, and dignity respected.\u2009Pursuing research in partnership with young people gives partners and decision makers the opportunity to improve and adapt services and policies.\u201d <\/p>\nMartin Goyette<\/strong>, professor at ENAP and co-holder of the Chaire de recherche sur la jeunesse du Qu\u00e9bec<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The research team concluded, among other things, that an unstable living environment can affect youths\u2019 academic and early career paths. Changing placement within youth protection services has a direct impact on job retention. The young people who were consulted for the study recounted being forced to leave jobs because of changes in placement settings. That is also often the case for school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Altogether, these findings highlight the strong links between employment status and challenges in various areas of life, including NEET status, gender, parenting, housing situation, health, and placement experience. They demonstrate the vital nature of measures that take a global, cross-sectoral, integrated, and stabilizing approach to supporting young people who have been placed under youth protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The report puts forward solutions such as helping young people stay in school and get started on their career paths. A global, cross-sectoral, and stabilizing approach; better preparation for adult life; and better support after youth reach the age of majority are also recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmployment is directly linked to other areas of young people\u2019s lives, such as health, housing, and parenting, all of which have direct implications for job integration and retention. Supporting the careers of young people who have been in care cannot be done without taking this interplay into account,\u201d explains Marie Dumollard, assistant professor at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al\u2019s School of Social Work<\/p>\n\n\n\n More broadly, the needs of young people in care may be more or less similar to those of other young people in Quebec. However, in the absence of obvious family support, and given the accumulated difficulties to overcome, institutional and workplace support must make greater efforts to offer these adults of tomorrow an equal and equitable chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those interested in learning more are invited to attend the CRJ\u2019s virtual lunchtime conference<\/a>, \u201cLes jeunes ayant \u00e9t\u00e9 plac\u00e9s sous les services de la protection de la jeunesse et leurs d\u00e9fis en emploi\u201d (\u201cYouth who have been placed under youth protection services and their employment challenges\u201d) on Friday, April 19, at noon. To participate: REGISTER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Research report reveals groundbreaking data on the lives of youth in care in Quebec.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":162906,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[688],"tags":[],"sectors":[732],"class_list":["post-162888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innover-a-linrs-en","sectors-societe-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHighlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRespect, dignity, and autonomy<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The report\u2019s recommendations<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n