Youth care in the Netherlands is reaching the limits of its capacity, and part of that is because mental healthcare and other aid aimed at grown-ups are also strained. Too many children are placed under a child protection measure because their parents did not get the help they needed in time to make a difference, Rinda den Besten of Jeugdbescherming Brabant, the largest child protection organization in Noord-Brabant, told AD.

“The entire system is grinding to a halt,” Den Besten told the newspaper. “It has happened that a child protection worker was really reprimanded by the judge. Because why had no support services been initiated for a child yet? But if there is no place available, what are we supposed to do?”

According to her, part of the problem is that too many children are placed under a child protection measure, while it is actually their parents who needed help at an earlier stage. “In the majority of our cases, a complex divorce plays a role. It would be wonderful if parents received help when the problems are not yet so severe that, in the worst-case scenario, a judge has to intervene because the safety and development of children are threatened.”

Things often go really wrong because problems only come to light when children are placed under supervision or, in severe cases, even removed from their parental home. Currently, Jeugdbescherming Brabant is handling 2,250 of these youth protection measures, and that number is only increasing.

“Everyone is doing their best, but currently, we sometimes continue to deploy too little help for too long within the chain. As a result, more and more crises arise, and child protection is brought in with great urgency,” Den Besten said. More children also mean more work, which increases the risk of incidents.

“Everyone, from politicians to municipalities and care organizations, agrees that this is an unsustainable system. Something needs to change, and work is being done on that,” Den Besten said. “But such transitions take years. Until then, I hope there will be more help from the outset. I am also working hard to achieve that.”