Different sizes, similar challenges: out of home care for youth in Germany and the Netherlands

While there is a large difference in the number of young inhabitants in the Netherlands and Germany, their child protection frameworks are quite similar. In both countries, child protection services are mainly focused on youth aged 0 to 18 and regulations are aimed at clients' responsibility and their active involvement during care. Youth care services consist of community-based services, day treatment and outof-home care services, which include foster care and residential care. The history of out-of-home care services in both countries is characterized by similar developments. Over the last four decades, similar trends in residential care, towards more small-scale forms of residential care, smaller residential group sizes, and increasing professionalization of staff have emerged. Over the last two decades, a comparable trend towards increasing professionalization can be seen in the context of foster care in both countries. In addition, the number of youths in out-of-home care increased in both countries over the last decade, specifically in foster care. Over the last decade, more studies have been conducted in residential care than in foster care in both countries. Despite similar trends and developments in out-of-home care practice, research mainly shows differences in applied topics and methods between Germany and the Netherlands.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Harder,Annemiek T., Zeller,Maren, López,Mónica, Köngeterb,Stefan, Knorth,Erik J.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid 2013
Online Access:	http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1132-05592013000300006
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