At a conference held June 11 in Quebec City, youth protection officials made one thing clear: improving outcomes for children starts long before the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse steps in. The latest annual report highlights rising demand and increasing complexity, but it also lays out a path forward rooted in prevention, investment, and stronger community networks.
In 2025 to 2026 alone, the DPJ received 144,321 reports involving 107,273 children, representing 6.4 per cent of all minors in the province. While that marks a 1.4 per cent increase from the previous year, only 39,661 of those reports, retained for further assessment. These figures suggest that while more families are being flagged, not all cases meet the threshold for intervention.
Many of the challenges families face begin outside the scope of the DPJ. Rising costs of living continue to strain households across the province. Housing is becoming harder to secure, food prices remain high, and access to essential services is not always within reach.
“Access to housing is becoming more difficult, to feed yourself is expensive, having access to certain services, it’s the accumulation of all these factors. This is ultimately what raises stress levels for parents in Quebec,” said Nadia Denis, youth protection director for Côte-Nord.
These daily struggles often build over time, eventually pushing families into crisis situations that could have been avoided with earlier support. That is why DPJ officials are calling for greater investment in prevention. Community organizations, schools, and local services are seen as key players in helping families before situations escalate. However, their ability to do so depends on reliable support.
“Community organizations need to know where their funding is coming from year to year,” said Nelson Pimentel, director of youth protection for Montreal’s West Island.
Making activities and services accessible
Another major issue raised during the conference is accessibility, particularly when it comes to activities that contribute to a child’s development. Sports, arts, and other structured programs provide more than entertainment. They help children build social connections, confidence, and stability.
However, these opportunities are not equally available to all families.
“Children’s accessibility to activities, for example when you have to pay 500 dollars for a house league soccer team, that’s a lot of money for some of our families, so it prices people out,” said Pimentel.
This lack of access can have lasting consequences. The report notes that more than half of young people show signs of social anxiety affecting their well being and development. Without opportunities to engage in structured environments, these challenges can worsen.
“Activities are important for the development of children, this is where we need to invest,” Pimentel added.
The data also shows that neglect remains the leading reason for intervention, accounting for 30.1 per cent of cases, followed by risk of neglect at 17.9 per cent. These figures highlight how many situations are linked to broader living conditions rather than isolated incidents.
The principle behind prevention is clear. “A dollar of prevention on the front end will yield greater results for a society,” Pimentel said.
Keeping families together whenever possible
Despite the growing pressures, the DPJ maintains that its primary goal is to keep families together. Just over half of children receiving services, 52.1 per cent, remain in their home environment, while one in five children are placed with relatives rather than in institutional care. Removing a child from their home is considered a last resort.
This approach requires collaboration with parents and sustained support systems that address root causes such as financial stress, mental health challenges, and social isolation. It also depends heavily on services outside the DPJ’s direct control.
The report further notes that 10,507 adolescents were involved in interventions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a 4.1 per cent increase from the previous year and part of a broader upward trend over the past five years. This adds another layer of urgency to the need for early intervention and accessible youth programs.
Ultimately, the findings point to a system reacting to crises instead of preventing them. By investing in housing, food security, community organizations, and accessible activities, Quebec has an opportunity to reduce the number of families reaching breaking points.
When asked what level of funding would be required to make a tangible difference, Pimentel declined to commit to a specific amount.
“I think there’s already been a significant amount invested, it’s a much bigger question than I can answer,” said Pimentel. “I’m not sure I can give you a dollar amount but we know that we need to invest.”
The message from youth protection officials is clear: rebuilding the social safety net is essential. Supporting families earlier and more consistently will not only ease the burden on the DPJ, but also ensure that more children can grow up in safe, stable, and supportive environments.
This approach also requires long term commitment from both government and communities. Sustained investments, better coordination between services, and a focus on equity can help ensure that vulnerable families are not left behind. By acting earlier and more collectively, Quebec can shift from managing crises to preventing them, creating a system that supports children before they ever need protection.
