{"id":17061,"date":"2024-01-16T13:15:37","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/boscoville1stg.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=developing-program&p=17061"},"modified":"2026-03-15T14:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T18:39:32","slug":"versant","status":"publish","type":"developing-program","link":"https:\/\/www.boscoville.ca\/en\/research-and-development\/versant\/","title":{"rendered":"Versant: Reducing the Risk of Out-of-Home Placement for Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Intended For<\/h2><\/div>
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Social care professionals<\/strong> in a community’s rehabilitation services that support youths aged 6 to 17 years old and their families in a context of negligence<\/strong> or serious behavioural challenges<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Objectives<\/h2><\/div>
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The Versant program aims to improve the behaviours of youth receiving rehabilitation services, as well as the sense of competence and educational practices of their parents by reinforcing family functioning.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program specifically targets family organization, family cohesion, problem-solving and family communication, all dynamic components of family functioning<\/strong> in the conceptual map on the topic (Pauz\u00e9 et al., 2013; Pauz\u00e9 et al., 2020<\/em>). <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Based On<\/p>\n

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The Versant Program Is Based on Several Theoretical Foundations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • The first is the integrative model of family functioning<\/span> (<\/span>Pauz\u00e9<\/span><\/em> et al., 2017<\/em>)<\/span>. This model offers a simple and practical tool for social care professionals to support their clinical study in their<\/span><\/span> Versant files.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
  • By drawing on Bowen family systems theory (Bowen, 1972<\/em>) and adopting a collaborative approach as a relational stance<\/span> (Madsen, 2009<\/em>)<\/span>, this program makes the family the central focus.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n
  • Moreover, the Versant program integrates the concepts of commitment and therapeutic alliance <\/span><\/span>(Sparks and Duncan, 2016<\/em>)<\/span><\/span>, increasing the leverage of <\/span><\/span>psychosocial intervention<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    For Youth with Adjustment Difficulties<\/strong> and Their Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The follow-ups with the families within the framework of the Versant program ultimately aims to prevent placement and help put an end to situations in which the safety or development of a child is in danger.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Essentially, the Versant program aims to improve the behaviours of youth and enhance the sense of competence and educational practices of parents by reinforcing family functioning.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    More specifically, the program focuses on improving family organization, family cohesion, problem-solving skills and family communication. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    For Social Care Professionals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The Versant <\/strong>program aims to support the clinical practice of social care professionals<\/strong> by standardizing psychosocial service delivery about family functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It specifically aims to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Expand the knowledge of rehabilitation teams regarding family systems theory (Bowen, 1972<\/em>), family functioning, the integrative model of family functioning<\/strong> (Pauz\u00e9 et al., 2017<\/em>), the collaborative approach (Madsen, 2009<\/em>) and the therapeutic alliance (Sparks and Duncan, 2016<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Develop the right skills and the right attitude in family intervention<\/strong> from these concepts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Support the organization in the implementation of uniform and collaborative assessment and intervention practices. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      Tier of Intervention<\/p>\n

      The Versant<\/strong> program offers the appropriate Tier 3<\/strong> interventions for youth and their families receiving external rehabilitation services in their community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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      The Foundations of the Versant<\/strong> Program<\/h2><\/div>
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      The Versant program was established out of the desire of some CISSS and CIUSSS to standardize their rehabilitation services in the community and prevent youth placement by structuring the service offer in the community.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Therefore, it is to meet these needs that the Versant program was launched, based on an evidence-based practice methodology. This approach integrates evidence-based research, the clinical expertise of social care professionals, the implementation context and the characteristics and preferences of the youth and families involved. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n

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      Negligence<\/strong> and Behavioural Disturbances<\/strong>: Improving Family Functioning <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Negligence and behavioural challenges are common problems in families monitored by youth protection<\/strong> services<\/strong>. Negligence appears as a lack of care at the physical, health and educational levels. These problems disrupt family relationships, generate behavioural challenges, increase the risk of other forms of abuse and can have developmental consequences for the youth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Serious behavioural challenges are characterized by behaviours that cause physical or psychological harm to oneself or others. However, these challenges (either interiorized or exteriorized) are often symptoms of deeper problems or attempts to satisfy underlying needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The link between youth behaviours and parental educational practices has helped guide the development of the Versant program and confront these problems. In other words, these two difficulties influence each other, which draws attention to the importance of considering the family as a resilient system.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      As a result, the program focuses on family functioning to address difficulties in an in-depth, sustainable way, instead of simply treating the symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The goal is to act on relational systems instead of individuals, to maximize the efficiency of family interventions<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      What You Get with the Versant<\/strong> Program<\/h2>\n\n\n
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      Training<\/p>\n

      A 3-day training session is planned for external rehabilitation professionals responsible for implementing the program. During these three days, we explore the theory behind the program, as well as the program’s clinical and concrete tools, including the conceptual map (Houde 2022; 2024; <\/em><\/span>P<\/span>auz\u00e9<\/span> et al., 2013; <\/span>P<\/span>auz\u00e9<\/span> <\/em>et al., 2020<\/em>). The final day is dedicated to case studies to help make the content more concrete.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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      Support<\/p>\n

      In addition to training, there are monthly meetings with members of the Versant committee as well as <\/span>co-development<\/span> meetings with educational teams. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss levers and obstacles, to deepen knowledge and ownership of the program, and more generally, to promote its implementation.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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      Documents and Other Tools<\/p>\n

      The intervention blocks include concrete, turnkey tools to support rehabilitation professionals in their work with families:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      • The general sheets<\/span><\/span><\/strong> provide a reminder of the principles of intervention, while the <\/span><\/span>specific sheets<\/span><\/span><\/strong> propose guided activities relating to the following themes: family intervention, cohesion, family organization, communication and problem-solving. These sheets are based on the dynamic components of family functioning and the conceptual map of family functioning<\/span> (<\/span>Pauz\u00e9<\/span> et al., 2013<\/span>; <\/span>Pauz\u00e9<\/span> et al., 2020<\/span><\/em>)<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        • The logbook<\/span><\/b> supports the planning, organization and facilitation of meetings with families, while enabling uniform note-taking for the entire rehabilitation team.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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          The Versant<\/strong> Program at the Experimentation Phase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          The Versant program is currently in the experimentation phase in three regions of Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          At Boscoville, we are adopting an experimental and research-based approach aimed at verifying the effectiveness of our programs in Qu\u00e9bec communities. Before large-scale deployment, we carry out preliminary tests of our programs on a representative sample of various environments, thereby reducing potential errors and increasing the likelihood that our programs are well adapted to the environment in which they will be used.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To achieve this, Boscoville places great importance on feedback from its partners, actively integrating their perspectives to ensure that its programs accurately reflect the reality on the ground. In addition, Boscoville partners with Qu\u00e9bec researchers to evaluate the effects and implementation of its programs, ensuring a rigorous and scientific assessment of their validity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The findings of the researchers should be available in 2024-2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          Take the Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Would you like more information about the Versant<\/strong> program?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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