12 May 2022 – 07:55
| Unacceptable: “I do not even know where I will live next week.” |
| Tomorrow (May 12) and next week (May 18), the House of Representatives will debate youth care and placements outside the home. By 2021, nearly 44,000 children did not live with their parents, they were removed from their homes. After a placement outside the home, children often end up in a care carousel with ongoing relocations. New research from Het Vergeten Kind among 118 children (7-21 years) in youth care shows that three quarters of the children move on average four times. A third of them heard it only one day before departure. Relocation is of great importance for children’s well-being and future prospects. |
Among the 118 children surveyed, the survey by Het Vergeten Kind shows that 75% move four times on average. With all its consequences. For example, the study shows that:
- Children dealing with too much uncertainty and instability† They have no sure future prospects†
- They relocated children on 15 years old age already fire time have moved. At least 47% of them are inside one year time to wait for another move.
- Sun 63% of the relocated children one week knew in advance that they were going to move. A third just heard thisone dayoreven a few hours before †
- 42% do not know where they will live in a year.
The future perspective is blurred
As long as children continue to move and do not have a stable place, they can not look to their future with confidence. It prevents them from building a ‘normal’ life in their current place: start with an education, join a (sports) association or take a side job in the neighborhood. The lives of these children are literally put on hold. “I do not even know where I will be staying next week. I like being able to look ahead. It will not work now.” tells Sam (18 years old, moved three times).
Children’s well-being deteriorates
Relocations often come suddenly and create unrest. Many children find it difficult to get used to and adapt to the working method and rules of the new place. Going further will make children’s (psychological and behavioral) problems worse. In fact, it has a negative effect on their well-being. Children are scared, panic attacks or become more easily angry or aggressive. Some children become insecure about moving on and have difficulty trusting people. “I felt alone and abandoned” says Dounia (19 years old, moved seven times). Other children get used – sadly enough – to the moves.
What needs to be done differently?
Constantly moving children is unacceptable†says Margot Ende-van den Broek (director of The Forgotten Child). “If we do it right the first time, children will benefit for the rest of their lives.” Some measures succeed in preventing relocations by organizing the proper care in the place where the child lives. “Unfortunately, there are still too few children who notice this.”
Het Vergeten Kind argues for a nationwide monitoring of relocations to gain insight into the extent of the problem and to work concretely with improvements. In addition, the fund wants the municipalities to pay a fixed amount for housing, instead of per bed that sleeps in. In this way, the care is always available. In addition, a child’s stay and treatment must be separated so that a place of residence is permanent regardless of the course of treatment. Finally, housing offers must be organized as in ‘normal life’, where children grow towards independence.
The research is brought to the attention of the last section of the EO program ‘Jojanneke and the youth care bands’ on 12 May, NPO 3.
Source: The Forgotten Child Foundation * Research conducted by The Forgotten Child Foundation, April 2022
Editorial Medicalfacts / Janine Budding
I studied physiotherapy and health economics. I am also a registered independent client supporter and informal care broker. I have extensive experience in various positions in healthcare, the social domain and the medical, pharmaceutical industry, nationally and internationally. And has broad medical knowledge of most health care specialties. And by the health laws, from which the health care system is regulated and financed. Every year, I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America to keep my knowledge up to date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in applied psychology.
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