Podcast: The Care of Tomorrow
This is The Care of Tomorrow, where we explore, highlight and deepen the future of Dutch healthcare. Every eight weeks, we invite inspiring guests who are committed to improving care for vulnerable people in our society.
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The Care of Tomorrow is a podcast of EHdK.
Episode 2: Ordinary living in youth care – The Heppie (t)House
Compared to other countries in Europe, the Netherlands places the most children out of home. Annually there are about 19,000 of them. As a result, more than 43,000 children are currently living away from home in the Netherlands.
Children who are placed out of home because of problems and insecurity in the home situation need security, continuity and stability. Unfortunately, more than three-quarters of children placed out of home have to deal with relocation within the youth care system an average of four times. This has a significant impact on these children’s sense of safety and well-being.
In this episode of Care of Tomorrow, we are guests of the Heppie (T)Huis in Geldrop-Mierlo. Initiator René van de Camp and remedial educationalist Ellen van der Hulst take us through how the Heppie (T)Huis does things differently. The Heppie (T)Huis offers a safe, warm and stable place to live to eight children in the municipality who (temporarily) cannot live at home. Children are allowed to stay as long as they want or as needed. A permanent team of educators is used and when additional help or treatment is needed, this takes place elsewhere. Contrary to common practice, the Heppie (T)House remains the child’s place of residence for as long as necessary.
Why it works and what it takes to organize this practically? You’ll hear about that in this episode!
Episode 1: Intro episode – Openness over Closedness
“In the Netherlands in 2020 there were about 1800 children in closed youth care and that has to stop” says Margot Ende – van de Broek, director of the foundation The Forgotten Child. Many of these places have now closed but still some 700 children stay in closed youth care. What are the alternatives?
In this episode, we talk about small-scale facilities in closed youth care. Why is this better for youth? And what is involved in organizing this form of youth care? We talk to Frederique Coelman and Kevin Scholte of Levvel. As an organization, they have been working for a number of years on the closure of closed youth care facilities and the conversion to small scale. They take us through the “why” and what you encounter when you want to organize this.
Want to learn more or get started yourself?
Please contact EHdK colleague Jos Smeenge
