Aims

The purpose of the "institutions" portion is, on the one hand, the mastery of the law of assistance and protection of youth and of the institutional machinery for its implementation, and, on the other hand, an appreciation for what is at stake in this area and the major trends which are developing.

The purpose of the "pratical" portion is familiarization with the array of institutional services and of practices in the field of assistance and protection of youth and use of programs for the analysis of such practices.

The course is interdisciplinary in its approach. It integrates the different disciplines involved in the system (law, sociology, psychology, criminology). The approach is also historical and comparative.

Main themes

The "institutions" portion covers:
— the legal sources of national law and of international law, which concern mainly parental authority and its control, juvenile delinquency and minors in danger.
— the history of these sources.
— proposed reforms.
— foreign experience.

The "pratical" portion covers:
— practices: the legal framewordk defining the various types of services and meetings with professionals working in the field (youth assistance services, judicial protection service, institutional placement or foster family, confinement of minors, work in an open environment, issue of treatment, infant care, etc.)
— major problem areas (youth crime, assistance to families in need, problems of infancy) depending upon different approaches.

Content and teaching methods

The "institutions" portion begins with a historical and comparative survey making it possible to appreciate what is at stake in the field and major trends which are developing. It continues with a study of national and of international law of assistance and protection of youth and of the institutional machinery for its implementation. The approach of the course is interdisciplinary. Prior reading of background material is required, the oral course presenting the opportunity to focus in depth on certain topics. An Internet discussion forum enables students to ask questions on the entire course.

In the "pratical" portion, students are invited to describe and to comment upon particular practices selected by them on the basis of presentations made by practioners and on the basis of a series of articles proposed for reading during the course.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation : Written exam for part I and evaluation of the written report for part II.
Support : Basic reference book : "Droit de la jeunesse. Aide, assistance et protection" - Françoise Tulkens & Thierry Moreau, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2000.

Other credits in programs