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Paper

Issues, challenges, and operationalization of the use of the Assessment Framework in the Quebec context: the example of the IACDW initiative

abstract

In Quebec, the mission of Intersectorial Action for Child Development and Welfare (IACDW), AIDES in the original French, is to encourage collaborative action among health and social services organizations (the youth protection system, health and social service agencies, specialized services, schools and daycare centres, community-based agencies, and the police) working with children 7 years old and under who are exposed to multiple risk factors, whether or not they have been reported to the Youth Protection Bureau.

Its objectives are: (1) to ensure the children's safety and encourage their optimal development; (2) to support the parents in the exercise of their parental role; (3) to encourage parents' participation and collaboration throughout the intervention process, particularly when decisions are taken concerning the family; (4) to promote a climate of collaboration, by eliminating the bureaucratic separation between different practice contexts so that they can be complementary and coherent and result in the improved coordination and integration of intervention and services.

In concrete terms, IACDW advocates an intervention process based on a systematic overall analysis of the developmental needs of the child and a participative approach involving the parents. To carry out its mission and attain its objectives, IACDW has opted for the use of the Assessment Framework developed in England.

IACDW also promotes the use of the Core Assessment Record, translated and adapted for Quebec under the name of CABE[1] (Cahier d'analyse des besoins des enfants). In the framework of the IACDW initiative, the CABE will, among other things, make it easier to target children exposed to multiple risk factors. The CABE makes it possible to obtain a comprehensive picture of the child's needs, the parents' ability to respond to those needs, and the family and social factors influencing the response.

The model advocated by IACDW allows organizations to work jointly at the various stages of a coherent and integrated intervention process that includes:

  • a needs analysis;
  • planned action (intervention plan and/or individualized services plan);
  • implementation and monitoring of the action plan;
  • review of the action plan.

More specifically, the various agencies will be in a position to: (1) share a common definition and understanding of the needs of the children and their families, of the risks the children face, and the of forms of protection available to them; (2) set clear and realistic goals; (3) better focus on the primary action to be taken; (4) define responsibilities and clarify individual roles; (5) discuss and evaluate the child's and the family's progress; (6) establish a monitoring system in order to make necessary adjustments without delay; and (7) encourage and sustain the commitment, integration, and social inclusion of parents and children. Based on the participative approach, various means are taken in order to facilitate and maintain parental collaboration at all stages of the program.

At present, the IACDW initiative is being implemented in youth centres and health and social service centres in four administrative territories of the Province of Quebec. One administrative unit is an area of Montreal; the other three are in the Mauricie and the Centre-du-Québec regions. These four administrative territories were selected for their strong tradition of shared action and community involvement which has led to several positive partnership experiences. Moreover, these local agencies solidly support the IACDW initiative, considering that it reinforces their efforts to (1) implement the measures necessary for ensuring the safety and optimal development of children at risk or who are victims of abuse and neglect, and (2) ensure the continuation of harmonious and effective practices among the various agencies.

Prior to full-scale implementation, the IACDW initiative underwent a trial phase in the four service territories. The research team established a working group of researchers, service-providers and decision-makers to adapt the British model and elaborate a utilization procedure for the Quebec context. Following the working group's recommendations, training and support activities were planned for the service-providers and decision-makers in the organizations taking part in the experimental implementation. A local coordination committee was set up in each of the territories to monitor the project's activities. During the trial phase, it became clear that it was necessary to examine and document the influencing factors during the implementation of the initiative. Several elements on the level of intervention practices (concepts, models, and tools) and on the instrumental level (human, material, and financial resources) had to be taken into account in the introduction of the British-inspired model. In addition, issues relating to individual and contextual practice conditions on the intra- and inter-agency levels were brought up by the different actors involved in the trial implementation. The experimental phase, lasting almost five years (2003-2007), enabled the research team to deepen its understanding of the British model, to develop the knowledge of the best way to adapt the model to the Quebec context, and to prepare the second phase of the project effectively.

References

Lessard, D., Chamberland, C. and Léveillé, S. (2007) 'Evaluation of the IACDW Initiative: a move to change the culture of child and family care in Quebec communities.' Canada's Children. Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, Child Welfare League of Canada, update 13, 3, 38-43.

Lacharité, C. (2007) Approche participative avec les parents dans l'analyse des besoins développementaux des enfants. Groupe de recherche et d'intervention en négligence.

Lemay, L. (2006) Ensemble vers un même horizon : Manuel de référence pour la réalisation des Plans de services individualisés (PSI) à Laval - Volet jeunesse. Laval, Quebec: Agence de la santé et de services sociaux de Laval.

 Contact

Professor Claire Chamberland, École de service social, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Email: claire.chamberland@umontreal.ca

Danielle Lessard, Research Co-ordinator, École de service social, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Email: danielle.lessard@umontreal.ca

 


[1] The IACDW initiative obtained permission to translate and adapt the Core Assessment Record from the Child Welfare League of Canada who holds the Crown copyright.

 

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