Social services board responds by beefing up

KUUJJUAQ — Nunavik’s regional health and social services board is taking action to improve youth protection services, says executive director Jeannie May.

May said Quebec’s health and social services officials reacted to the report on youth protection services, which was prepared by Quebec’s human rights and children’s rights commission, with an offer of help and additional resources.

“They’re actually giving us support — that’s the positive thing,” May said.

As a result, two experienced youth protection workers will arrive in October to assist the two heads of youth protection — Aani Tulugak in Puvirnituq and Louisa May in Kuujjuaq. As well, youth protection staff are receiving more training on how to apply the Youth Protection Act and the Young Offenders Act.

May said other measures have been taken, still more are planned, and additional recommendations are also included within the region’s new strategic plan for health and social services.

But May said the health board considers the report on youth protection services “poor,” showing a lack of understanding of the region’s social services network, and containing many factual errors.

May defended the work done by the region’s youth protection services. She said it’s a challenge to apply laws designed in the South.

“We do the best we can with what we’re given,” May said.

In her opinion, Quebec often seems to wait until a crisis develops in Nunavik before they provide more resources to the region. May said Quebec only recently approved a long-standing request for an additional ambulance vehicle in Kuujjuaq. The approval came only after coping with injuries caused when an all-terrain vehicle accident stretched emergency resources to the breaking point.

May also said improving youth protection services in the region means improving and investing in the entire health and social services system.

“If we’re going to help the children, help me help the parents, help me help the parents, the teachers and the leaders,” May said.