Almost all municipalities point out that structural resources are needed to make real changes in youth care. “The concept of ‘extra money’ is incorrect and therefore a frame,” the municipality of Venlo responds. “That implies that there is ‘additional money’. That is not the case. It is an incidental compensation.”
After 2022, the extra budget for youth care will decrease again, while the number of young people in need of care will continue to rise. That worries municipalities. As in Helmond: “The money comes in very handy, but we are not there yet. As various reports have indicated, structural additional government resources and measures are needed to make the system really financially sustainable and improve it.”
Youth care Netherlands also believes that more money should be made available, but “municipalities must then show that they are also making good use of that extra money”. Vulnerable children and their families have to wait more often and longer for the right help. That should be the priority of municipalities,” says a spokesperson.
Youth protection ‘already collapsed’
Professor of youth care law Mariëlle Bruning was already afraid that not all the money would go to youth care. “The hope was that it would go to youth care, youth protection and specialist care. They are not about to fall over, they have already fallen over.”
According to Bruning, the fact that the municipalities spend it on other matters shows how urgent this problem is. “We all know that there have been very large shortages in the municipalities since 2015. Apparently this money is used for overdue maintenance. But youth care pays the price: there is still a shortage and the pressure is enormous.”
Staggering system
Youth care is not yet ready for drastic improvements, thinks Bruning. “It is such a shaky system. Peace must first be created with more money. There must be breathing room for youth care professionals. Only then can we see how we tackle the problems of youth care.”
State Secretary Blokhuis (ChristenUnie) says that a new cabinet must decide on structural funding and adjustments to the system. In anticipation of this, his ministry is now in talks with municipalities, client organisations, providers and professionals to arrive at a reform of youth care.
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