[The maison des adolescents scheme (MDA), 20 years already!]

The maison des adolescents scheme (mda), 20 years already! It was created because a lot of the existing programs dedicated to teenagers and their families were unrecognized and poorly articulated. In order to make them more identifiable, Claire Brisset, défenseure des enfants (child advocate), recommended the creation of a unique place inspired by the experience of a teenager's house opened in 1999 in Le Havre. Teenagers and their families could find information and support, have their situation evaluated, offer care and be referred to other professionals if necessary. In addition to this mandate, the MDA scheme also coordinates all the different operators working in this field in their area. Today, there are 120 MDA in France. Their mission is to prevent any teenagers' malaise or angst, anywhere in France, in urban as well as in rural areas. Since the creation of the first MDA in Le Havre in 1999, the situation has improved a lot. But there is still a need to improve the territorial coverage and the financial endowment of these schemes, in order for them to be able to fulfil this beautiful ambition to better the wellbeing of France's youth.