The AIDES initiative is primarily intended for children between 0 and 9 years of age who are exposed to multiple risk factors. The children must fulfill four inclusion criteria:

• They must be between 0 and 9 years of age when referred to the research project;

• They or their parents must be receiving the services of at least two organizations, for example, a Centre jeunesse (youth centre) or a CSSS (health and social service centre);

• The family situations of the children must have deteriorated to the extent that significant concerns are raised (referral to Youth Protection, high-priority index at a CSSS, etc.);

• Having the child remain in his/her natural family environment is the orientation of services offered to the child and his family.

For the purposes of applying the AIDES initiative within the present research project, the diagnosis of a pervasive developmental disorder or intellectual handicap in the targeted child constitutes an exclusion criterion.