Petition for the end of closed youth care, but what are the alternatives?

More than 133,000 have signed the petition of Stichting Het Vergeten Kind, asking for an end to closed youth care. They call on the cabinet to quickly come up with a plan for good alternatives. Today the petition was handed over to State Secretary Van Ooijen of Public Health.

The closed youth care, officially JeugdzorgPlus, is intended for children and young people for whom lighter forms of assistance do not help and who pose a danger to themselves or their environment. The juvenile court judge can impose it on children who are suicidal, self-harm, have a serious drug addiction or, for example, are very aggressive. In 2020, more than 1800 children were in closed youth care for a short or longer period of time.

Studies show that most children get damaged more in these closed institutions than that they are helped there. “Children are the victims of the fact that we in the Netherlands are still unable to provide appropriate help to these children,” writes Stichting Het Vergeten Kind.

More repression than aid

In the petition, the foundation asks for two things: an amendment to the youth law so that the juvenile court can no longer authorize the forced admission of young people and the rapid development of alternatives, so that the children receive the care they need.

“Incarceration and other freedom-restricting measures lead to extra problems for these children, they have traumatic memories and new fears,” says a manifesto from the foundation. “In closed youth care, children experience violence and repression. It is an unsafe place that stands in the way of recovery and development.”

“Closed youth care does not work out well for most children, especially if it takes longer,” acknowledges Anita Kraak of the Netherlands Youth Institute. “And that’s very painful.”

“The children often change groups, even though they are children who already have a hard time trusting people and making contact difficult,” explains Kraak. “And education is limited. As a result, after closed youth care, they often start with a disadvantage in society.”

Nienke, now 19, was in closed youth care from the age of 14 to 17. She talks about her experiences:

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