Children and Young people’s policies have been high on the Dutch government’s agenda for quite some time. Dutch youth policy is distinguished by two characteristics. Firstly, since the late eighties, a large number of tasks that used to be managed by central government has been transferred to lower administrative levels: the provinces and – especially – the local authorities.

This decentralization is meant to help create a broader spectrum of policy for the lower administrative levels so that they have more tools at their disposal to manage and find solutions to local issues, needs and demands. Secondly, a distinction is made between general preventive youth policy – for which the local governments are responsible – and the youth care system, which falls under the responsibility of the provinces. The local preventive youth policy includes for example education, leisure time, health care, but also specific tasks in relation to the prevention of problems, such as access to help and the coordination of care at the local level (with specific attention towards parenting support). The youth care system covers all forms of care available to parents and children to help with serious development and parenting problems. 

This article will give a general introduction to the main developments in Dutch youth policy during the recent years. Many initiatives have been taken to achieve coherent and integrated policies. The two most important and recent developments have been the launching of Operation Young - a governmental strategy to achieve a more effective and result-based youth policy – and the introduction of the Youth Care Act, that has become effective at the beginning of 2005. The Youth Care Act gives a new legislative basis to the youth care system. These two initiatives will be addressed in this article.

I. General developments
In the Netherlands the term ´youth´ applies to children and young people from 0 (–9 months) up to the age of 24. Approximately one-third of the Dutch population falls into this category, and one in five young people are of an ethnic background other than ´native Dutch´. The vast majority of young people (85%) presents no cause for concern. Their average level of education is rising, they are healthy and happy and they get on well with their parents. However, the remaining 15% do need some additional support at one time or another. Only a very small minority (5%) may be said to have serious social and/or psychological problems. In principle, Dutch youth policy is directed at all young people. However, in recent years extra attention has been devoted to the high-risk groups.

Comparable to other developed countries, the Netherlands has a longstanding but complex system of policies and services for children and young people. Both at the administrative level – where different ministries and levels of government hold responsibility for certain aspects of youth policy – as well as at the level of organisations that deliver the services – there is a lot of overlapping and compartmentalization. The main changes in governmental youth policy during the recent years, have been to address this problem and to work towards better integrated systems and services. This has been underlined by a strong belief that a better cohesion also leads to better services for children and young people. The efforts are directed at creating more integrated horizontal policies (including all aspects of children and young people’s life) and vertical cooperation between the different levels of government (and other relevant organisations). In order to achieve these objectives the ´Operation Young´ has been launched. 

Administrative responsibilities
The Netherlands is a decentralized unitary state. This means that decentralized authorities at provincial and municipal level assume some of the tasks and responsibilities which would otherwise fall to central government. In doing so, these authorities enjoy a certain degree of autonomy.
Immediately below central government, the Netherlands' second level of government is formed by the twelve provincial (regional) authorities. A number of larger cities support these authorities in certain tasks and enjoy a comparable status. The third level of government is formed by 450 local authorities, or municipalities.

Coordination of youth policy is the responsibility of the Directorate of Youth Policy, a department of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). Various other ministries have certain tasks related to youth policy. The provincial authorities are responsible for child and youth care services, while local authorities are responsible for general youth policy and for the relevant (preventive) services and facilities for children and young people.

Operation Young
The Dutch government has started ´Operation Young´ with the ambition to achieve better results for children and young people at risk. A special governmental representative has been appointed to co-ordinate the project which brings together five Ministries. The main focus is at taking away barriers in the policy and practice of helping children and young people at risk and their parents. The framework for co-operation is the Youth Agenda.
The objectives of Operation Young are to achieve greater cohesion in youth policy, to identify and resolve sticking points, and to create better co-operation between the Ministries that deal with an aspect of youth policy, other levels of government and relevant partners. It puts children and young people central on the agenda rather than institutions. The main goal is a strong and result based youth policy

Operation Young will be in action from 2003 until 2006. The changes in youth policy at all levels are to be implemented at local and regional level by a variety of organizations, focusing on children and young people at risk and their parents. Comprehensive ‘linked chains’ of youth services are of great importance. In some cases, there are currently gaps in the chain. There is particular room for improvement in those areas in which the policy areas of different governmental departments converge. Accordingly, the ministries most closely involved in youth policy have decided to work together. Specifically, these are the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The State Secretary for Youth and Sport from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport co-ordinates the operation on behalf of the government.

Operation Young works with a Youth Agenda. After consultation with the different levels of government and other stakeholders, an agenda of twelve youth matters that needed improvement, has been put together, e.g. care structures in and around the school, early intervention, youth and public space, a national youth monitor and the fine tuning of tasks between the local and provincial governments.  Action plans have been developed around al these twelve subjects, involving the different ministries and other parties. At the same time the national government has signed an agreement with 13 municipalities and 4 provinces to put in practice the more integrated cooperation of different levels of government and other organisations involved. Both the youth agenda and the agreement will be closely  monitored and regular updates of progress will be made. Operation Young will end with concrete results of the youth agenda and an official recommendation from the governmental representative responsible for Operation Young about the necessary changes in the youth structures in order to achieve the best outcome for all young people. This recommendation will be finalised in 2006.
 

II. The Youth Care System
Although, as has been already mentioned in this article, the majority of young people present no cause for concern, there is a group whose prospects in education and on the employment market are somewhat lower. Some ‘drop out’ of schooling early and therefore are not always in possession of good starting qualifications. Moreover, recent research has shown that ‘high risk’ behaviour, such as smoking, drinking and recreational drugs use has increased among young people in the Netherlands in recent years. There are signs of increasing stress and a falling level of general welfare and well-being. The take-up rate for the more intensive forms of youth care is rising. Juvenile delinquency is taking on ever more serious forms, while in some cases the average age of offenders is falling. Also, a growing number of parents and families have problems keeping up with the consequences of an increasing complex society and the demands on the upbringing of children.

These are the high-risk groups which are most likely to come in contact with youth care services. The youth care system offers support, help and protection to young people, their parents, step-parents or guardians, wherever problems in terms of development or parenting occur or are likely to occur. Youth care may be sought on a voluntary basis, while certain compulsory interventions can be made in the interests of the young people themselves.

There is a dividing line between voluntary and compulsory interventions. Voluntary interventions are concerned with preventing, reducing or solving psychosocial problems, behavioural disorders, psychiatric problems, pedagogical problems and other factors that may negatively influence a child's development. 'Voluntary' implies that it is the young people themselves (or their guardians) who take the initiative in requesting help, and are free to accept or reject the assistance offered. ‘Compulsory’ intervention refers to the action taken when children are seen to face serious obstacles to their development, and/or are being abused in the domestic situation. Social workers will then intervene, with or without the consent of those involved. Compulsory intervention requires a decision of a juvenile court.

The Youth Care Act
A fundamental revision of the system of youth care services has taken place over the past twenty-five years. The Youth Assistance Act (Wet op de Jeugdhulpverlening) was passed in 1990. One of its main aims was to create a cohesive and balanced range of high-quality youth care services, designed to meet actual demand. Such services would be organized on a decentralized (regional) basis. However, the Act did not lead to the desired results. Despite all attempts to promote cooperation and coordination, the system continued to lack transparency for (potential) clients, and remained fragmented and compartmentalized. There was little actual cooperation or coordination between the various services.

In 1994, the government published a policy paper entitled ‘The Coordination of Youth Care Services’ (Regie in de Jeugdzorg). In this policy paper, the ministers responsible agreed that there would be a single point of access to youth care services in each region, i.e. the Youth Care Agency. It was also determined that the care providers should operate according to a set programme, with far greater cohesion wherever possible. In its 1998 coalition agreement, the government announced its intention to pass a new and revised Youth Care Act, which would supersede the existing legislation and would provide a legislative framework for the desired developments. The legislation process took quite some time, but the new Act has been effective since January 2005.

More Information: http://www.youthpolicy.nl  This website gives information on children & youth policy, practice and provisions in the Netherlands. It covers a wide range of subjects from general information on the organisation of youth policy to more specific themes and policy areas. It includes factsheets, useful addresses and links to relevant organisations in the Netherlands. However, please be aware that these links provide little information in English or in other languages besides Dutch. 

This website is supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Care, Directorate Youth Policy. The Nederlands Jeugdinstituut (Netherlands Youth Institute) hosts this website. An independent organization dedicated to quality and innovation of the care and welfare for youth, in co-operation with institutions, professionals, policy makers and citizens.

Main Structures

Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS)
Directorate for Youth Policy
PO Box 20350
2500 EJ The Hague
The Netherlands
Telephone: + 31 (0)70 340 55 69
Fax:  + 31 (0)70 340 62 93
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Website:  www.minvws.nl

Dutch National Youth Council
Maliebaan 127
3581 CK Utrecht
The Netherlands
Telephone: + 31 (0)30 230 35 75
Fax:  + 31 (0)30 230 35 85
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Website: www.jeugdraad.nl

NIZW International Centre
(also the National Agency of the EU Youth Programme)
PO Box 19152
3501 DD Utrecht
The Netherlands
Telephone: + 31 (0)30 230 65 52
Fax:  + 31 (0)30 230 65 40
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Website: www.nizw.nl/internationaal