One day in the life of a Quebec youth protection social worker
Most days, Zoe Hurtado is in her car more than she's at her desk.
As a social worker in Quebec's overburdened youth protection system, she's often driving her young clients to and from appointments to visit family, to the hospital or to court.
“Often we'll get our biggest disclosures and most important discussions in these car rides,” she said.
Building trust is a key part of her job, but finding the time necessary to do so isn't always easy. Hence, the importance of the car rides, not to mention of flexibility.
“I could have everything scheduled and I go to the first meeting and there's a crisis,” she said. “Well, my day just went out the window and then I need to reorganize.”
When she isn't on the road, Hurtado works out of her office at Batshaw Youth and Family Services, which primarily serves Montreal's English-speaking community. She works for the Evaluation and Orientation department, which is responsible for investigations after a call is placed to report a child who could be at risk.
“Anyone who has concerns for a child's safety and wellbeing can call us,” she said. “It could be a family friend or a neighbour.”
Calls also come in from mandatory reporters such as teachers who suspect a child is being mistreated or neglected.
Hurtado and others like her handle situations that fall under Quebec's Youth Protection Act, such as neglect, physical, psychological or sexual abuse or abandonment.
The system has been under scrutinty since the death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby in 2019.
To find out what a day in the life of a social worker in Quebec's youth protection system is like, watch Angela Mackenzie's report above.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.