In the Netherlands, foster care has changed tremendously since
the introduction of the Child Care Act in 1989. Article 23 of this
Act rules that foster care must be provided as quickly as possible,
as close to home as possible, for as short a time as possible and
in the least intrusive form.
Furthermore the Child Care Act prescribes that restoration of ties
with the parents should be aimed at in every case. Administratively
speaking, it aims to create better distribution of foster care agencies,
clear distinctions between voluntary and compulsory child care and
a single system of financing.
From the introduction of the Child Care Act on, foster care has not
only been an officially recognised service within the care system,
but has also evolved into a fully professional and generally accepted
way of helping children in troubled family situations. As such it
differs from foster care in other countries, where pre-adoption is
the main goal for placing children in foster families.
Recent trends
To begin with, no one can speak with confidence about the precise
state of foster care in the Netherlands because, due to factors such
as the lack of standard procedures for registering foster care placements,
reliable statistics are not available.
However, a sketch of the situation and its recent history can be
drawn. We can confidently say, for example, that the present system
is inadequate to meet the needs of children in the Netherlands. The
foster care capacity comprises approximately 6,000 foster families
who can accommodate some 8,000 up to 10,000 children. This is insufficient
if children are to be placed in a foster family that fits with the
child's special needs. For this reason some 3,000 children cannot
be placed yearly. A large number of families must be recruited in
order to place each child according to his or her demands.
Other broad patterns can be defined. Six out of ten foster children
stay for more than a year in a foster family; the rest stay for an
average of four months. In principle children who cannot be placed
in a foster family have to stay at home, regardless of the severity
of the problems or situation. In some cases however they need to be
placed in residential homes. On average, about half of all placements
are compulsory and the other half voluntary; 65% percent of all the
voluntary placements are girls, and 53% percent of the judicially
placed children are boys. About two thirds of the children in voluntary
placements are older than the age of twelve. Fifteen percent of all
foster children are estimated to be of foreign descent.
Developments in foster care
During the past two decades, some changes have been taking place.
The number of voluntary placements has increased significantly. Kinship
care and social network placements have increased to approximately
40%. Referrals to foster care and the number of foster children actually
placed have increased as well. A fourth development worth mentioning
is the increase of weekend- and day foster care, which helps to reduce
the burden of parenting. Finally, present Dutch policy aims to offer
a supply-oriented system instead of a demand-oriented system. Thus
it facilitates intensive family support before considering out-of-home
placement and considers foster care to be one of a variety of types
of professional care as well as a form of permanent support in cases
where family reunification in the long run is unlikely.
Foster care in the Netherlands has been undergoing change during
the last 20 years as a result of governmental reports produced in
the 1980's, and the legislative acts, and also the debates and follow-up
studies which they generated. This process of debate and legislative
action has resulted in a more efficient system of care, with roles,
responsibilities, decision-making procedures, and, most importantly,
goals more clearly defined. Human aspects of foster care have also
come under closer scrutiny. Many still feel that the voices of children,
parents and foster-parents too often go unheard.
