Dutch policy
Dutch youth policy in general
In the Netherlands, the term youth is applied to children and young people from 0 up to the age of 24. Approximately thirty percent of the Dutch population falls into this category, and one in five young people have an ethnic background. As in most other industrialized countries, the proportion of youth in the total population is decreasing.
The average Dutch child is happy, is satisfied about his or her life, gets along well with his parents, gets by (reasonably) well at school, has an animated social life and is satisfied about his relationships. Compared with young people from other western industrialized countries, Dutch young people are considerably better off. In the Unicef Report Card about child well-being in rich countries, Dutch youth rank the highest in well-being and in subjective well-being in particular. However, at the same time around a third of the Dutch parents worry about the upbringing and development of their children. Furthermore, approximately 15% of the Dutch adolescents has problems and may need some additional support. The majority of this group has temporary serious problems which can be solved reasonably well. A small part of this group of adolescents, approximately 5%, is structurally at risk in their development.
Youth policy is high on the political agenda in the Netherlands. There are a number of distinguishing characteristics. Firstly, since the late eighties, a large number of tasks formerly managed by central government have been transferred to the local and provincial administrative level. This decentralisation is intended to facilitate local and provincial authorities t0 find solutions to local issues, needs and demands. Secondly, a distinction is made between general and preventive youth policy – for which the local authorities are responsible – and the youth care system, the responsibility of which lies with the provinces. Local preventive youth policy includes education, leisure time and health care. It also includes specific preventive tasks, such as access to help and care coordination (with special focus on parenting support), that are offered by youth and family centres. The youth care system covers all forms of care available to parents and children in order to support in the case of serious development and parenting problems.
The Netherlands is a decentralised unitary state. This means that decentralised authorities at the provincial and municipal level carry out certain tasks and responsibilities with a certain degree of autonomy, including general and preventive youth policy and youth care. The Netherlands contains 12 provincial (regional) authorities and 431 local authorities (municipalities). The provinces have the responsibility for child and youth care and the municipalities for general youth policy. Coordination of youth policy is the responsibility of the former Ministry for Youth and Families. Within this content four departments cooperate: the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Relevant Dutch legislation on children and young people
In the Netherlands there is no encompassing law for issues on children and young people. However, two laws are very important:
The Youth Care Act (in Dutch: de Wet op de Jeugdzorg), introduced in 2005, is the legal framework of youth care services for youth at risk and their families. It’s aim is twofold: to ensure that better care is made available to young people and their parents (the clients in the youth care process) and to strengthen their position. The client is at the centre of a more transparent, simpler youth care system. This principle is reflected in five policy objectives. These are:
• The needs of the client come first;
• Entitlement to youth care;
• A single, recognizable access point to the youth care system (a youth care agency in each province);
• Integration of other services such as child abuse and neglect reporting and consultancy, (family) guardianship and probation;
• Introduction of family coaching.
In 2009 and 2010, there were many (political) debates in The Netherlands about this act and the Dutch child and youth policy services and system in general. One of the main concerns is that more and more youngsters and their parents need highly specialized care whereas help is insufficient in an earlier phase. Early 2010, the former ministry of Youth and Families prepared a policy briefing on this matter.
On 1 January 2007 the Social Support Act (in Dutch: Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning - Wmo) came into force. Under the Act, the municipalities are responsible for setting up social support. The aim of the Social Support Act is participation of all citizens in all facets of the society, or otherwise with help from friends, family or acquaintances. This law defines nine ‘performance areas’. Local authorities are expected to ‘perform’ in these areas, but precisely how they do this is left to the local authorities themselves. However, regarding ‘preventive support of adolescents with growing up and parents with parenting problems’, all municipalities must offer information and advice, identify possible problems, give guidance to help, offer pedagogical help and coordinate care within a Youth and Family Centre. More information can be found at http://english.minvws.nl/en/themes/social-support-act/default.asp
Transition in the youth care system
In the Netherlands the care for youth is currently being transferred to the responsibility of local municipal governments. This concerns all care for youth that falls under the national, provincial and metropolitan governments such as youth health care, provincial youth care, child protection and youth rehabilitation, youth mental health care, care for youth with mild intellectual disability and residential youth care. In July 2011 the public administration together with the VNG (Association of Dutch Municipalities) and IPO (interprovincial consultative structure) have reached a set of agreements for the coming four years. Municipalities get the freedom to arrange the care for their local youth.
Financial means for youth care will also fall under the responsibility of the municipal governments and will be put in the existing municipal funds in the form of a decentralized payment. The money will be divided according to a standard model. Two organizations are currently researching the best model. Before the summer of 2012 they will present the first results.
A new law on youth care is being developed. National quality demands for the services rendered to children, youth and parents will be laid down. Also the necessary cooperation between municipalities is currently being researched on which task areas cooperation is necessary.
The transition in the youth care system does not stand alone but is interdependent with decentralization measures in the budget and policy for special health care, employment (work according to ability) and suitable education. The government wants to enable youth to participate in a civil society. Important criteria are the own power of civilians, the application of social networking and work as demand driven as possible.