A decade ago, the Department of Hautes-Pyrénées made a strategic decision to merge the Foyer départemental de l’enfance (FDE) and the Maison parentale (MP) to create a modern, multi-purpose facility: the Maison départementale de l’enfance et de la famille (MDEF). Today, this structure is recognized as a major success in child protection and support for isolated parents with children under three, playing a structuring role within the Department's actions under the Child Social Assistance program.
The former sites, scattered between Tarbes and Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre, presented structural limitations such as inadequate buildings and obsolete safety standards. The MDEF project resolved these challenges by offering a redesigned environment, combining safety, comfort, and warmth, while supporting the daily work of the 43 professionals who operate there.
Since 2016, the MDEF has supported 594 children within the FDE and 189 single mothers with 271 children at the MP. The FDE provides emergency care for entrusted young people aged 7 to 18, while the MP offers a secure environment for single mothers or fathers with at least one child under 3 years old. These placements, decided on administrative or judicial grounds, now benefit from an individual and tailored response.
Under the leadership of the new director and her teams, the MDEF is continuously progressing. Projects are underway, including on-site meal production by the end of the year, the creation of a Snoezelen room for adolescent calming, and the structuring of the MDEF as an emergency reception hub.
These ten years have been marked by difficulties, but also by remarkable mobilization from the MDEF professionals, Department colleagues, foster parents, partners, and elected officials. Their commitment has transformed the MDEF into more than just a facility; it is a symbol of what an ambitious public policy can achieve when it combines professional expertise, solidarity among stakeholders, and quality infrastructure. As this new decade begins, the MDEF's role remains more essential than ever in protecting and supporting children and families towards a more serene future.
