COVID-19 : Updates

The IR-RTF assistance measures have been updated. We will summarize the main changes. You can view the complete press release attached at the end of this text.

End of the 20% temporary bonus

This measure, which aimed to cover the hygiene measures that were to be put in place, ended on June 30^th, 2020. Some institutions mentioned that they would have to take back overpayments in the next two installments. We have made it clear that it is unacceptable to take retroactive action since the end of the measure was announced more than a month late. We are awaiting a response from the Ministry on this subject.

Measures related to the increase of the load of services

The fixed amount of $9.96 per space occupied to compensate for the increase in the intensity of services that FA must offer to users is maintained according to the evolution of the health emergency.

Salary increase for staff in IRs non-targeted

To help IRs not covered by the LRR to retain their staff, the measure to increase their staff’s salary of an hourly bonus of $4 per hour up to a maximum hourly rate of $21.27 was implemented on August 2^nd  and will be maintained according to the evolution of the health emergency.

The financing of this measure will take into account the social charges. Thus, the RI will be offset to 4.89 $/hour paid to an employee.

The 4% recognition bonus for other employees is funded since March 13^th and maintained as the health emergency evolves.

For full details on eligibility for this measure and the method of payment, please see the attached document.

See the press release: covid-19 07-08-2020 (003)

Following the relaxation of government instructions considering the current epidemiological situation, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has updated all the measures surrounding foster family (RI-RTF) that welcome people from the SAPA service program.

Prevention in the living environment

Routine infection prevention activities are maintained, including scouring hand washing, coughing or sneezing in the elbow, and social distancing of 2 meters between users.

Visits

Visits for the SAPA, SM and DI-DP-TSA service programs are now authorized. It is the same for the user’s outings.

Placements, displacements and reintegration

Except for those who recovered from COVID-19, it is required to make a Covid test to users who enter or reintegrate the RI SAPA environments of 20 places or more. In the same vein, people who have been in hospital for more than 24 hours must also undergo the COVID-19 screening test before returning to the RI-RTF and RI SAPA centers of 19 places or less.

Criterion for the recovery of an individual

To be considered as recovered for people residing in RI-RTFs of all service programs combined, it is recommended to apply the criterion of 28 days without PCR to lift he isolation measures.

Break and intermittent placements in IR-RTF

Resources whose sole mission is to provide respite-help spaces will be able to resume their services. However, it is suggested to favor less frequent, but longer periods of respite for the same user.

Please note that a rise of the number of people infected with the coronavirus could, therefore, lead to a tightening of these new measures.

Please take note of this attached document 20-MS-05553-53_PJ5_MAJ-Directives_RIRTF_MAJ_2020-07-03_version finale to be informed about the latest guidelines applicable as of now. The latter replaces the instructions issued on June 19^th.

Annexes 1 to 7 are important tools to support your actions in a pandemic situation (deconfinement plan, symptom observation, means to promote isolation, etc.)

The Ministry of Health and Social Services provided details concerning the monetary compensation in the context of the pandemic concerning the following points.

• Measure related to exceptional expenses pre-authorized by the establishment such as the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, quarantine costs, contact maintenance costs, certain transportation costs, etc.
• Measure related to the additional workload to apply the hygiene measurement instructions.
• Measure related to the presence of additional personnel in the FAs.
• Measure related to the additional work required by the containment.

These measures are retroactive to March 13.

All details are in this document at points 1, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3: Communiqué covid-19 (08 June 2020) .pdf

Christian Dubé, President of the Treasury Board, confirmed to us by telephone a temporary and retroactive improvement to March 13, 2020 for all the resources. It is added to that already obtained of 20% of operating expenses.

Details and payment date are not yet known, please be patient.

Negotiations start soon

We met Edith Lapointe, chief government negotiator. She assured us that we had the mandate to start quickly. The government seems to want the result to be satisfactory for all.

Please consult the following notice here : Good News of June 5, 2020

Depending on the region in which you live, there is a gradual deconfinement going on. So new guidelines have been issued. For more details on each of the guidelines, see the PDF attached to this article.

Visits and outings

All visits and outings, including those ordered by the court, are allowed unconditionally, except in some cases at risk. See pages 1 and 2 of the PDF. Collaboration between the Afs, the family environment and stakeholders is necessary to maintain contacts.

School attendance

Primary schools are reopened. However, if the child has symptoms characteristic of COVID-19, he or she must remain at home. For children with vulnerability factors, it is recommended that they not be sent to school until September. The decision to return the child to school or not is up to the biological parent. See the PDF on pages 2, 3 and 4 for more details.

Daycare Services

For questions about family child care in an IR-RTF, contact your advisor at the Ministry of the Family.

Young people in employment

Employment can be maintained following a clinical analysis by the caseworker. See pages 4 and 5 of the PDF for details.

Sanitary measures during outings and visits

The instructions to be followed by the person receiving the child will be transmitted by the institution. See the list of these instructions on page 5 of the PDF.

Return of the child in your FA after an outing

You must assess the child’s overall health upon return. Follow the recommendations on page 6 of the PDF.

Visit to the FF

If the child receives a visit to your environment, you must ensure that certain preventive measures are followed, both for the visitor, the child and your environment. See the terms and conditions on page 7 of the PDF.

Integration of a young person

The integration of a young person is done according to the usual procedures unless the young person comes from an environment where there is a case of COVID-19. For details, see the PDF on page 7.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Recommendations on wearing a mask and isolating a youth with symptoms can be found on pages 8, 9 and 10 of the document.

Please consult the following notice here : 20-210-138W_Consignes concernant les ressources intermédiaires et de type familial (RI-RTF) qui accueillent la clientèle du programme-services Jeunes en difficulté

The government has authorized the resumption of court-ordered contacts. However, the director of youth protection must take measures to protect the health of the population. These measures will be communicated to you once they have been established.

The point at the moment is that court-ordered visits are resumed for all children, even if the child, one of the persons with whom he or she has a right of contact, or one of the persons in his or her receiving environment:

• has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is awaiting test result
• was in contact less than 14 days ago with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
• travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days
• has symptoms related to COVID-19
• has, in their host environment, a person with COVID-19 vulnerability factors

If security measures cannot be implemented, the DPJ must replace the in-person visit with a remote contact. If this option is not possible, the decision ordering the contact may be suspended.

Refer to the Ministerial Order for more details : AM_numero_2020-032

Based on the evolution of the pandemic, the DHSS clarified and changed the guidance for FF.

Contacts ordered by the Youth Chamber

Contacts ordered by the court are always suspended except for certain essential situations. As containment measures continue, you must consider the possibility of implementing alternative security measures to maintain physical contact between the child and his or her relatives in order to avoid the consequences of a lack of physical contact between certain children and their parents, in particular on the attachment or the process of returning to the family environment.

Protective measures during clinical follow-up visits

Personal protection measures to be applied by the institution’s representatives during visits to the RTF-IR were put in place. See the PDF attached on pages 20 and 21 for a list of measures.

Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in IR

Some clarifications have been added to the IR instructions, particularly with respect to welcoming a new user. For full details, please refer to page 8 of the attached PDF.

What if there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your IR?

Details were provided, in particular, regarding the containment of a person suspected or confirmed to be COVID-19. All details are on pages 12 and 13 of the attached PDF.

Please consult the following notice here : Directives_RI-RTF_MAJ 2020-05-02

You cannot refuse to reinstate a child who has visited the emergency room or a health and social services facility for less than 24 hours. The measure stating that the child must have a negative COVID-19 test result in order to be reinstated does not apply in this context.

Please consult the following notice here : 20-MS-02908-08_LET_PDG_Réintégration des usagers

The evolution of the pandemic situation necessitated the updating of some instructions for family-type resources.

Contacts ordered by the Youth Chamber

For some children, prolonged physical distancing from their biological parents may affect the development of the bond of attachment. For example, the suspension of a court order allows for consideration of ways to maintain physical contact with biological parents provided that:

• Personal safety is protected
• Measure prevents virus spread
• The measure follows the rules and approval of the Director of Public Health

Placement and travel

It is not permitted to admit a suspected or confirmed person with coronavirus who does not already have cases of COVID in his residence. However, the obligations set out in collective and national agreements remain. The refusal of placement is therefore an exceptional measure. Moving the user is the last option considered in the current context, but this may be the only possible solution. Each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis and takes into account the presence in the environment of a person over the age of 70 or a person with a physical vulnerability to COVID-19.

FF retention of a young person over 18 years of age

The section of the Act respecting the termination of a placement order when the young person reaches the age of 18 is still applicable. However, there are some exceptions in the YCA. In the current case of a pandemic, if the youth consents to remain in their AF, the placement can continue. This decision must be made in consultation with the institution.

Additional measures to prevent the spread of the virus

To protect resources, various measures have been put in place, including:

• COVID-19 screening test prior to discharge from hospital
• Administrative segregation for 14 days for anyone returning from hospital or newly housed in a resource
• Ensure strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures

For the full list, see the PDF attached at the end of this text on pages 8 to 10.

Physical distancing

You have to look at it on a case-by-case basis to see if distancing is required in cases where one of the children would continue to have contact with a family member or if they are employed in an essential service such as the grocery store. See the PDF attached at the end of this text on page 12.

Isolation of a user with adaptation difficulties

For confinement in the chamber, individual programming must be made. Measures must also be taken to monitor meals and disinfect the bathroom between each use.

For full details, see Appendix 2 of the attached PDF. You can read all the details in the attached document. The updates are in red. : COVID-19 Directives_RI-RTF_MAJ 2020-04-12 Vanglaise.pdf

In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is normal to be worried and even feel anxious. Several reactions are possible at different levels of intensity.

Emotional reactions

Fear, anxiety, distress, anger, irritability, sadness, guilt, uncertainty

Psychological reactions

Doubt about the importance of the situation, loss of concentration, often reviewing images seen in the media, fear of travelling, memory lapses, indecision, confusion, nightmares

Physical reactions

Doubt about the importance of the situation, loss of concentration, often reviewing images seen in the media, fear of travelling, memory lapses, indecision, confusion, nightmares

Behavioural reactions

Tendency to cry constantly, feeling of detachment, hypervigilance, withdrawal or isolation, increased tendency to blame or criticize others, increased use of alcohol or medication

These reactions are normal and cannot be completely avoided. The important thing is to accept our anxiety and take care of it.

Tricks :

• Pay more attention to your feelings and reactions than to the event.
• Avoid judging your reactions.
• Try to reduce other sources of stress.
• Inform people around you about the best way to help you.
• Find an activity to entertain yourself, relax.
• Avoid overviewing the media.
• Take time to rest and have a good sleep routine.

If you have anxious thoughts or feel anxious, call the help Homewood Health’s line, available 24 h/24, 7 jours/7 :

1 866 398-9505
ATS : 1 866 433-3305
HomewoodSante.com

For more detail, please consult the following : HH_Employee_COVID19_Facts_FR_03_April_2020.pdf

Special and temporary financial measures have been put in place to support you during this health crisis.

We will ensure that institutions pre-authorize expenditures agreed to with the Department. We ask that you respect the efforts made by the Department and be rigorous in your claims for actual expenses at real cost.

Our recommendations :

1. Keep all your receipts; they are required to claim a refund.
2. Remember that pre-authorization is required
3. Read and be sure to understand the attached document.
4. Do you have any questions? We are here to answer them.

Summary of financial measures:

• Quarantine or isolation costs when the user or resource is to be housed outside of the living environment (e.g. hotel, meals, competent replacement).
• Virtual contact maintenance fee if, at the institution’s request, additional technology or internet connection costs are required.
• Transportation and consultation related to COVID-19.
• Other pandemic-related costs not covered by other programs must be pre-authorized. For example, grocery delivery.
• Any other expenses required by the institution in connection with COVID-19 should be reimbursed.

For LRR resources only:

• Temporary 20% improvement in operating expenses applicable from March 13, 2020 to cover hygiene measures to be implemented by resources.
• Certain exceptional measures may be authorized to encourage the presence of personnel in LRR resources.

For full details on these measures, see the following PDF: Measures -version-FFARIQ.pdf

The provincial government has updated its guidelines for visits and exits. These FF directives replace those issued on March 17, 2020.

We would like to remind you that good collaboration between FF and institutions is key to ensuring the health and safety of all and to properly communicate these measures to children, FF and biological parents.

Interdiction de visites

Non-essential visits are always prohibited. To maintain contact with loved ones, arrange telephone or videoconference meetings (Facetime, Messenger, Skype).

Court-ordered visits are still suspended as announced on March 20. Talk to your facilitator about implementing alternative contact measures.

For more information, see: Stopped number 2020-006 March 19 2020

Exits and contacts

Any outdoor exit, including walking or going to the park, is also suspended for children except in the following cases:

• Visits and exits necessary for humanitarian purposes or to obtain essential care or services required by their state of health;
• Visits deemed essential for the required repairs and maintenance of their living environment;
• Supervised exterior exits.
• So your little commies can go outside if, and only if, you accompany them.
• All contact with the biological family and relatives, even outside, are therefore prohibited.

Institutional staff must support AF leaders to ensure that children and their biological parents and loved ones understand the required actions.

For any decision regarding a child’s visits and contacts with his or her biological parents or relatives, be sure to always involve the institution in your efforts.

Exits deemed non-essential

All non-essential appointments and activities are therefore deferred until further notice. This includes annual dental visits, social activities, work occasionnel.

Psychological monitoring visits or child psychiatry visits, for example, could be maintained if necessary. Assess the situation with the institution.

Clinical folow-ups

Clinical interventions, visits or exits essential to the intervention and clinical follow-up are maintained. The essential character of these visits will be determined on a case-by-case basis with the institution. For other interventions, the use of telephone or videoconferencing will be preferred.

Intermittent repairs and investments

Each respite and intermittent placement will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the DPJ in order to direct the youth to the best placement solution. We remind you that FF is an essential service and that we must be available for new investments.

Isolation for managers and staff

Anyone who lives with you or gives you home help returning from abroad must be isolated for 14 days. Contact your institution to assess the best possibility of segregation that will ensure the safety of your household.

Prevention: compliance with directives

Everyone living in your home must comply with the guidelines put in place:

• Hand washing
• Cough or sneeze in elbow or tissue
• Immediately discard tissue after use and wash hands
• Maintain social distancing between people and do not hold meetings.

If one of your little commies does not follow guidelines such as avoiding gatherings or contact with people outside your home, contact your facility to agree on a solution to keep your family and children safe.

You will find a poster reminding you of preventive measures here: https://publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca/msss/fichiers/2019/Affiche_OnSeProtege.pdf

For more details, see the Provincial Government Direction Sheet: PDF COVID-19 Directives_RI-RTF_MAJ 2020-03-25

COVID-19 forces us collectively make several changes to our lifestyle. We share tips and advice for taking good care of you.

Your daily life is turned upside down: school closed, very limited outings. In order to keep in shape, both physically and mentally, we suggest some small habits to take on.

• Establish a daily routine. Maintain your usual hours of work, sleep and meals. Set goals for yourself each day.
• Eat well and drink lots of water. Avoid eating too sweet foods, as they cause variations in energy and mood.
• Get moving! Exercise is good for the body and mind. Many exercises can be found on YouTube like yoga, Pilates, interval training. This is also the time to dust off the forgotten stationary bike in the corner of the garage.
• Take advantage of natural light. Install a work, study, DIY, drawing corner in a naturally well-lit area.
• Stay in touch with your loved ones, friends or colleagues through social networks, the telephone and videoconferencing such as Facetime or Messenger. Why not organize a little virtual dinner with friends or family?
• Take care of your mental health. Spend quality time with the people who live with you. Do activities that you find rewarding. Take the opportunity to read a book, keep a diary, draw or learn a new language using online applications.

For more details, see the Homewood Health fact sheet. HH_Self-isolation and quarantine_CORONA-VIRUS_EN_March25_20

Anxiety: limit the consumption of information

COVID-19 is the hot topic in the media. It’s important to be informed, but knowledgeable. Here are a few tips :

• Take time off from the news from time to time. Find out from credible and trustworthy sources. Avoid getting involved in social media debates. Just focus on the facts. Here is a list of reliable sources:
• Health Canadawww.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada.html
• World Health Organization www.who.int/fr/home
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
• Focus on something else. Stay in touch with your friends and loved ones, but talk about things other than COVID-19 like the last artistic creation of one of your children, the show you saw online the day before or the unexpected outcome of your favorite TV show. Share reading suggestions or your best recipes.

Be aware of your mental health

If you feel anxious, distressed, or more impatient with those around you, call a mental health professional or someone you know you can talk to.

If you are already being followed by a professional, find out about remote consultations.

You can also reach Homewood Health, our resource assistance program, at the following number:
1 866 398-9505
ATS : 1 866 433-3305

For more information, see the Homewood Health fact sheet. HH_NEWS_anxiety_CORONA-VIRUS_EN_March 25_2020

Our offices have been closed since 5:00 last night to comply with the new containment guidelines issued by the provincial government. However, our team will be in telework mode to continue to accompany you and answer your questions. Here is how to reach us.

Until government authorities lift the Business Closure Directive, you can join our team using the following contact information:

Advisors

Outaouais, Batshaw, Laval et Laurentides
Raida Baklouti
rbaklouti@ffariq.ca
418 554-6493
Monday to Friday from 8 :00 to 17 :00

Mauricie et Gaspésie, Côte-Nord et Québec
Maude Delagrave
mdelagrave@ffariq.ca
581 998-1804
Monday to Friday from 8 :00 to 17 :00

Coordonnateur des CLC provinciaux
Jean-François Rioux
jfrioux@ffariq.ca
819 696-8594
At night and during week-ends

Your regional presidents are also available for you. Please refer to the our site to find their coordonates : https://ffariq.org/fr/comites-regionaux

Tools to accompany you

The FFARIQ website will continue to be updated with information relevant to FA. You can also consult the private Facebook group in your region to stay informed and get support and advice.

Emergency cases

Geneviève Rioux, president FFARIQ
grioux@ffariq.org
819 691-6958

Let’s stay together and everything we’ll be just fine!

Guidelines have been issued by the provincial government to ensure that the little commies that you might be pairing will have access to their medication during confinement. Here is the relevant information for you.

Establishments must support all FA to make sure that :

• The community pharmacy must be notified of the child’s new address and contact information to contact the FA at least 24 hours before the user leaves the facility.
• Establishments must inform the user and the FA of the importance of contacting the pharmacy in order to properly organize the services before going there. FA are encouraged to read the following Drug and Drug Services Backgrounder: https://publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca/msss/fichiers/2019/19-210-29W.pdf

For all details, please read the following PDF document : PDF Lignes directrices RSSS couverture pharmacologique_VF

You or any other person who lives with you receive a positive diagnostic of COVID-19 or suspect to be positive? You must immediatly and absolutely take all the confinement measures. Here is how to do it.

1. Immediately notify the establishment
2. Inform facility of level of care, if known.
3. In the case of an infected adult, they can stay at home if they are independent enough to take care of themselves and can isolate themselves in a single room with an exclusive bathroom. She must stay in the room at all times, even for the meal. The establishment will recommend a transfer to a containment medium if one of these conditions cannot be met.
4. For the children in your care, you must notify the birth parents or guardian and the Youth Protection Directorate.
5. Every decision must take into account the child’s characteristics. For example: intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, physical impairment, major neurocognitive disorder, in order to take the necessary measures to ensure the preservation of its psychological and physical integrity.

For all details, please read the following PDF document : PDF COVID-19 Directives_RI-RTF_2020-03-22_VF

Did you or a person living with you pass a COVID-19 test? It is imperative rester à la maison et suivre les directives suivantes.

Until your doctor tells you that you can resume your regular activities, you should follow this by the book :

1. Stay home, reschedule your non-emergency appointments, and don’t greet anyone at home. Avoid as much contact as possible with other people living with you. Often aerate the house by opening a window.
2. Wear a mask in presence of another person.e.
3. If, for medical reasons, you have to leave the house, first call Health Update at 811
4. Use a paper handkerchief to cover your cough and sneeze and discard immediately.
5. Wash you hands frequently with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
6. Do not share your personal belongings or your plate, glass, cup, utensils.
7. Monitor your symptoms and take your temperature every day.
8. If symptoms appear or worsen, contact Health Update at 811 immediately. See the attached PDF for symptoms to watch.
9. If you are experiencing stress, anxiety, panic, contact Info-Social 811, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a telephone consultation.
10. Frequently wash and disinfect surfaces such as countertops, door handles. See attached PDF for action.

For all details, please read the following PDF document : PDF COVID-19-_Consignes_isolement_1060

User classification meetings are maintained, but can now be done remotely.

CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec has issued a memo regarding the classification of users during this COVID-19 confinement.

Thus, the user classification meetings are maintained, but the classifier will no longer appear in the physical environment until further notice.

Here are the different ways to hold a classification meeting :

• Physical presence of the classifier, resource and responder at a CIUSSS facility near the resource;
• Physical presence of the responder in follow-up with the resource in their environment by conference call with the classifier;
• Consolidating the classifier and follow-up responder in a CIUSSS facility by teleconference with the resource;
• Conference call for all parties.

Recall that the way to hold the meeting must first have been decided with all participants.

At the FFARIQ, we understand the discomfort and frustration that the current situation can bring you. We are working very hard to find solutions. Your feedback and encouragement motivate us.

Thank you for your trust!

For all details, please read the following PDF document :: PDF NOTE-service-Classification-usager-COVID19_2020-03-18

Good news : Visits with biological parents, even those ordered by the court, are suspended.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has adopted the following order:

The findings of a decision or an order made by the Court of Québec are suspended, ordering any contact in the child’s physical presence with his or her parents, grandparents or any other person, to the extent that the Director of Youth Protection considers, in accordance with public health recommendations, that these findings cannot be met in a manner that protects the health of the population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Director of Youth Protection shall, whenever possible, provide for other means of safe contact by any means deemed useful, including technological means. The Director of Youth Protection shall permit the execution of the conclusions as soon as they can be applied without representing

Right now and tomorrow morning, it is very likely that you will hear from stakeholders who will say the opposite. We ask that you remain calm and present the document attached to this press release. Remember, the social services network is a big ship to run. Be patient. There may be a delay before the information reaches everyone in the network.

We encourage you to propose alternative meeting measures such as Facetime. We ask that you remain available and listen carefully to the requests of the stakeholders and biological parents. Children have the right and also need to maintain a bond with their natural parents.

We strongly encourage you to keep your responder informed, by phone or email, of situations that may arise in your home: flu symptoms, phone contacts that are not going well. We have to work together in this situation.

REMINDER: Your role as 1st line responder

We remind you that you play an essential role in the protection of children. Despite the crisis, a child in a situation of abuse or neglect must not be left to fend for himself. We ask you to show solidarity and welcome this child.

In this exceptional context, institutions will need to work with you to conduct an analysis of each situation in order to make a decision that will comply with public health directives.

Your collective and regional agreements provide that, in certain circumstances, you may refuse a placement. In the case of COVID-19, these reasonable reasons are:

• You are over 70 years old or someone else is and live with you.
• You, or someone living at home, have a medical condition at risk such as lung problems, asthma, heart problems, diabetes, kidney failure, cancer, chemotherapy, immunodepressive status.
• If you have rooms available, even if this is not provided for in your contract, we invite you to contact the pairing team in your region to tell them that you can receive young people, by telling them what type of clientele (age, sex). Let us all work together to get through this crisis.

Obligation to accept certain visits

Let us remind you that you must accept to accept the following visits :

• Worker if child disorganizes
• Competent custodian

Of course, if the person has flu symptoms or comes back from a trip, you can refuse the visit.

For all details, please read the following PDF document : Stopped number 2020-006 March 19 2020

We are still waiting for a clear direction from the government on visits to biological families. Contradictory information is coming in. Here are the latest developments.

While Prime Minister François Legault and Horacio Arruda, Director of Public Health, deliver a message to youth to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19;

While artists and influencers such as Cœur de Pirate, broadcast messages on the Internet urging people, including young people, to stay at home;

Now there have been some conflicting messages about your obligations as an FF, including visits with biological parents. At the FFARIQ, we acted quickly by contacting the government for clarification and by communicating your reality to the media. Defending yourself and ensuring your safety and that of your little commies is our primary mission.

Many of you on social media have called on public authorities to give you clear instructions. Thank you. Together, our voice is stronger.

Our watchword is the following :

• Collaborate by respecting the guidelines.
• Do not panic.
• Have respect for the children.
• Listen to our Prime Minister’s guidelines.
  • It tells young people not to get together, to respect distance orders, not to party, to wash their hands, etc., because they can give the virus to vulnerable people even if they are not sick.
  • It says to stay at home, to isolate yourself, not to receive family, just the essentials, and not to receive friends.

• All non-essential visits and outings are suspended.
• Visits or exits essential to the procedure and clinical follow-up are maintained.
• For now, visits with biological parents ordered by the court are maintained. For unordered visits, you are encouraged to use other means to maintain the connection with biological parents such as the phone, Facetime, etc.

IMPORTANT: Your role as 1st line responder

We remind you that you play an essential role in the protection of children. Despite the crisis, a child in a situation of abuse or neglect must not be left to fend for himself. We ask you to show solidarity and welcome this child.
In this exceptional context, institutions will need to work with you to conduct an analysis of each situation in order to make a decision that will comply with public health directives.

Your collective and regional agreements provide that, in certain circumstances, you may refuse a placement. In the case of COVID-19, these reasonable reasons are:

• You are over 70 years old or someone else is and live with you..
• You, or someone living at home, have a medical condition at risk such as lung problems, asthma, heart problems, diabetes, kidney failure, cancer, chemotherapy, immunodepressive status. 
• If you have rooms available, even if this is not provided for in your contract, we
  invite you to contact the pairing team in your region to tell them that you can
  receive young people, by telling them what type of clientele (age,
  sex). Let us all work together to get through this crisis.

Obligation to accept certain visits

Let us remind you that you must accept to accept the following visits :

• Worker if child disorganizes
• Competent custodian

Of course, if the person has flu symptoms or comes back from a trip, you can refuse the visit.

For all details, please read the following PDF document : PDF COVID-19 Directives_RI-RTF_2020-03-17_VF[1]

FF are considered essential services. So you are eligible for child care services for essential services.

With the closure of schools, Cpes and child care services, the provincial government has established a network of child care services dedicated to persons in essential services occupations.

To find the nearest open day care : https://www.quebec.ca/famille-et-soutien-aux-personnes/services-de-garde-durgence/

We hear your concerns and questions. The situation is changing rapidly and we are in constant contact with the minister’s office. Here are answers to several of your questions

• Contacts and visits : If you, children, or biological parents have flu symptoms, you must request a stop of visits for the next two weeks. If you, the children or the biological parents come back from travel, you must request a stop of contact.
• Transportation and intervention in your home or facility: If a carrier, worker or other employee of the facility has flu symptoms and/or returns from a trip, you can refuse to have them in your home or to have contact with the children or yourself.

Refusal of contact: procedure to follow

• Contact the youth worker, on-call worker or social emergency.
• Clearly explain that the directive comes from Geneviève Rioux, Provincial President of the FFARIQ, following telephone interviews with the department on March 12 and 13, 2020. At that time, the department ensured that the directive was clear for institutions: health and safety prior to prescriptions.
• Are you an AF from one of the 8 regions represented by the FFARIQ? Contact us at info@ffariq.org for instructions or contact your local committee.
• To facilitate case management, indicate your region and the child’s user number. Explain the situation with the names of the stakeholders consulted, the expected dates of future contacts as well as your telephone number and email address.

Quarantine: Steps to follow

• Contact the child’s worker to inform them of your quarantine.
• If you arrive from a trip in the next few days, before you return home, contact the facilitator for instructions on your particular case. You may be asked not to go home. Make sure you have a written statement (email) explaining the facility’s requests and keeping proof of all expenses incurred.

Closing Schools and Daycare Centres: The Way Forward

• If the situation causes a problem with your work, contact the child’s worker.
• Refunds may be made. We will keep you informed when we have more details.
• Document any losses or expenses incurred (e.g. competent custodian).
• If changes need to be made to pre-authorizations already approved for users such as the addition of a competent custodian, make corrective requests.

Here are our recommendations, as well as those of the Department of Health and Social Services, to ensure the safety of our little commies and yours during the pandemic.

• Remote meetings: meetings with members in their community, meetings with new members, as well as non-urgent meetings with the institution will be held, until further notice, by telephone or videoconference, or will be postponed at a later date. Any necessary administrative investigations or meetings are of course maintained.

• Travel : Anyone returning from travel must complete a 14-day voluntary quarantine. As a resource, you need to inform your users’ responder about what to do in your area. If you decide to travel despite Ministerial instructions, please schedule the two-week quarantine period starting immediately upon your return home.

• Meetings : All tours, dinners, briefings are suspended until further notice.

• Living Environment: We urge you to increase the frequency of cleaning your environment and to urge all those living in your environment or who are visiting you to follow the basic hygiene rules: frequent hand washing, coughing and sneezing in your elbow. Limit encounters if you, your children, a person living in your community or a visitor comes back from a trip or feels unwell due to a cold or flu symptoms. If you believe that visits with the natural family are at risk, quickly contact the child worker, on-call worker or social emergency in your area. Health must prevail over orderly contact.

• At the FFARIQ : We have implemented strict hygiene measures: regular hand washing, cleaning and disinfection of work surfaces every day, limiting visits. We also encourage our team to work remotely as soon as possible, while making sure we protect our data and yours.

The health and safety of children, resources and our entire team, both in the region and in the provincial office, are our priority. We are here to support you. We are monitoring the situation and will keep you informed on a regular basis.