Transition and transformation of the caring for youth: a rough diamond

Due to shortcomings in the care system the responsibility and the finances for youth support and help are transferred from the central government to the 408 municipalities in the Netherlands. From 2015 on the municipalities have to create comprehensive policy on general preventive youth policy, youth health care and youth care.

There are a lot of uncertainties about the future. The 408 municipalities have to provide enough youth help, in quality and quantity. They have to decide on the involvement of the Child Care and Protection Board. The municipalities have not experience in this field. Therefore deliberate decision-making is essential. Vermeiren poses the question: will children get the care they need, if a municipality decides which support and care they van get? Knorth en Reijneveld have their doubts about the competence of youth professionals because their lack in experience and training. There are worries about the early phases in the system. Dove, Heller and Feron suggest an approach in which symptoms are treated as seriously as a diagnosis. Strijthagen advocates to appoint the Youth Health Care as the liaisons officers in the social domain. There are a lot of questions. Therefore Witte pleads to strengthen cooperation of research and practice institutions in research. And Zandbergen shows how co-creation with parents and youths lead to innovative ideas. Dannenberg points to the policy freedom the municipalities need to be able to provide in the specific needs of a child.

Transition and transformation of the caring for youth cannot be realized by a blue print. It requests a development approach. As a rough diamond it has to be carefully cut.