Access and Equity: Evaluating Linguistic Disproportionality in Child Protection Services

In Quebec, access to social services can vary significantly for linguistic minority communities, with evidence suggesting that public policy and system organization can shape service equity. Following the 2016 merger of health and social services into the Centres intégrés universitaires de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS), and ongoing reforms toward Santé Québec, these large-scale restructuring efforts have been criticized for potential unintended impacts on service accessibility, particularly for minority populations. Concerns have been raised that such system changes may have contributed to disparities between communities, including those based on language.

This project investigates whether differences exist between English- and French-speaking child welfare services in Quebec. Using provincial administrative data (AS480), we will compare key indicators such as child protection signalments, time to investigation, placement availability, clinical decision-making outcomes, and adoption rates across Montreal-based agencies and other regions over the past five years, including both pre- and post-pandemic periods. The goal is to identify potential service gaps linked to linguistic context and regional variation. Ultimately, this research aims to support more equitable, timely, and consistent child welfare service delivery across Quebec’s English- and French-speaking communities.

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