YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTRES IN THE NETHERLANDS CLOSING THE GAP? Caroline Vink – The Netherlands Youth Institute 01-03-2011.

YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTRES IN THE NETHERLANDS

CLOSING THE GAP?

Caroline Vink – The Netherlands Youth Institute01-03-2011

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Overview:Providing the best for children and families; reasons behind the Youth and Family Centres in the Netherlands

The Netherlands

• 16.7 mln inhabitants

• 1 mln immigrants

• 180.000 births a year

• same size as Estonia

• first-time mothers - 29 year

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Youth Policy in the Netherlands

• 0 – 18 (25) years• 1 in 5 has an ethnic minority

background• Decentralised responsibilities• Youth-at-risk model (distinction

between preventive, general services and youth care)

• Transition of care to local level (after 2011)

Children and Young People in the Netherlandsfacts and figures

•0 - 18: 3.500.000 (22%)

•Doing well: 85% (2.975.000)

•Problematic youth: 15% (525.000)

•(very) serious problems: 5% (175.000)

•No cooperation parents: 3% (105.000)

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The introduction of youth and family centres• Several evalutions of the Dutch care

system• Too much focus at risk• Lack of support for parents• Fragmented support system• Ministry for Youth and Families 2007 –

2010• 2008 – 2011 Youth and Family centres

in all 405 Dutch municipalities6

Increase of children and young people in specialised care

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Child andYouth care

Average growth rate:

± 7.4% a year

Special education

Average growth rate:

± 17.5% a year

Mental health care

Average growth rate:

± 12.5% a year

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PrioritiesYouth and Family Centres (local level)Basic Model

A. Child and youth healthcare– Child health clinics and municipal health services

B. Five Functions stipulated in the Social Support Act on parenting support

– Information and guidance– Identification of problems– Guidance to help– Minor pedagogical help– Coordination of care– Including social work, family coaching and parenting support

C. Link to Youth Care Agency (entrance care system)D. Link to School Care and Advice Teams

Youth and Family Centres

15 May 2009 15 October 201064%

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Youth and Family Centres

• No blueprint – many forms• Co-operation model• Not organised around parents and

children• Baby well clinic +• Central role

Youth and Family CentresPossible model

Information and Advice

Information and Advice

Youth and Family CentresYouth and Family Centres

Preventive andPedagogical

help

Preventive andPedagogical

help

Co-ordinationOf Care

Co-ordinationOf Care LocationLocation MarketingMarketing

VisitingHours

VisitingHours

InternetInternet InformationAt schools

InformationAt schools

TelephoneTelephoneBrochuresBrochures

Prevention - universal Signposting Interventions

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Youth and Family Centres

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Challenges:

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care that cares

Reconciling positive image

and low threshold:(Needs of parents)

Challenges

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no child left behind

and at-risk focus:Risk control and child

protection(responsibility authorities)

Challenges

Integrated Working:

•Bringing together different disciplines•Professionals with different attitudes towards parents and care•Communication•Who is responsible?

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Challenges

Listening to and involving parents:

What do parents want:•Support•Meeting•Information

Attitudes towards parents

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What Youth and Family Centres can bring• Low threshold and support• Continuum of care• Early intervention• Integrated working around the

family and child• Co-ordination of care• One family, one plan

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Will we close the gap?

•Support and protection•Different professionals•Attitudes towards parents•Knowing what works?

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Thank you! Questions?

More information:[email protected]

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„Tento projekt sa realizuje vďaka podpore z Európskeho sociálneho fondu v rámci Operačného

programu Zamestnanosť a sociálna inklúzia.“

www.esf.gov.sk www.fsr.gov.sk