A second report on children in care is broadcast this Wednesday evening on the program -

MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP

  • Two years after the broadcast of a survey which notably showed scenes of violence in a foster home for children placed in Eysines, in Gironde, a new documentary examines what has changed.

  • Efforts have been made on recruitment and the creation of small structures, but it is still difficult, for example, to separate the aggressor and his victim after a sexual assault.

Two years after the shock investigation "placed children, the sacrificed of the Republic" by journalist Sylvain Louvet, a new documentary is being broadcast this Wednesday evening on France 3 as part of the “Piece à Conviction” program, with a special evening which will begin from 9:05 p.m.

This second opus “Children in care: what is the Republic doing?

", Produced by Capa Presse with the participation of France Télévisions is particularly interested in what has changed at the departmental center for children and families (CDEF) of Eysines, in which the images shot by an infiltrated journalist had shocked public opinion.

On the screen, we saw in particular an overwhelmed educator who physically attacked children.

Others testified to regular sexual violence after which victims and attackers were not even necessarily separated.

More trained staff

For this new survey, Sylvain Louvet decided to return to the CDEF to see if the promises of improvement were kept.

The broadcast of the first report had given rise to a great “commotion”, in the words of the new director of the center Franck Bottin.

The educator involved in the documentary and the director at the time paid the price.

In 2019, the undercover journalist was recruited in a flash, without showing experience or qualification to supervise young people.

“Today there are 95% of graduates within the CDEF, that's important.

The report noted that some did not have diplomas, which is completely legal, but which does not necessarily correspond to the degree of quality that we wish to have ”, points out the president of the department Jean-Luc Gleyze who held a press conference this Wednesday, on child protection, without having viewed the images of the new report.

Upon hiring, CVs and criminal records are now systematically checked, he also assures.

Small privileged structures

Like the majority of emergency centers, the CDEF was faced with chronic overstaffing.

The slogan of the department is now to create small structures, to refocus the activity of the CEDF on the unconditional emergency reception of children (refused by other structures or rejected by a foster family, among others. ).

“We have created seven small houses since 2017, including four since the documentary aired, each welcoming six children and adolescents.

A specific unit has been created within the CDEF for 3-6 year olds, ”points out Jean-Luc Gleyze.

In the last survey, an educator testifies to the possibility of carrying out more “personalized” work with young people.

A call for projects is planned for 2021 to create 32 reception places for young people with specific needs.

The stated objective is to get all teens and preteens out of the Eysines site, by creating specific structures.

Measures which have "considerably reduced the level of violence on the Eysines site and inside the houses," points out in the report Franck Bottin.

He points to the 70% drop in the repair budget allocated to deal with material damage, such as broken windows or doors.

On sexual violence "no zero risk"

Emmanuelle Ajon, who died suddenly on December 14, 2020, intervenes in the report in her capacity as vice-president of the department in charge of child protection.

She reports that sexual assault between minors has greatly decreased without disappearing.

"It's a place where kids will find themselves concentrated despite everything, and who have anger in them and sometimes, they can exert it on each other," she explained.

We would love to, but we cannot guarantee you zero risk.

»Efforts are made to separate victims and aggressors, but this is not always possible, given the availability in other structures.

"We must remain frank, lucid and humble, obviously everything is not resolved," concludes the president of the department.

Difficulties remain, above all because they are due to the fact that these children themselves have experienced violence, and that their behavior reflects what they have experienced ”.

He calls on the structures competent in the child psychiatric aspect to take their part in this complicated care since it is linked to human tragedies.

Society

Agen: "I did not know that what I was undergoing was wrong", tells a victim of incest followed in a specialized center unique in France

Society

Gironde: In Sablons, a children's village as a new horizon for brothers and sisters placed by justice

  • Violence

  • Aquitaine

  • Bordeaux

  • Child

  • Child protection

  • Society