Give Children a Voice in Out-of-Home Placements

In the Netherlands, half a million children receive youth care. Nearly ten thousand children have to deal with the reality of out-of-home placement. These children are vulnerable, often feeling powerless and unheard. They sometimes don’t understand why they have been removed from their homes or believe it is their fault. This has serious consequences for their well-being and development. Researcher Anouk Goemans is exploring how children can feel safe and heard during out-of-home placements—and how a trusted support figure can make a difference. “Ideally, we want all children to grow up at home. Unfortunately, that is not always possible. Children have the right to our efforts in gathering knowledge to minimize the harm of an out-of-home placement..”

Give Children a Voice in Out-of-Home Placements
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. In the Netherlands, nearly ten thousand children have to deal with the reality of out-of-home placement. This is an incredibly disruptive experience. No matter how unsafe their home situation may be, children have an unconditional love for their parents. These children are often vulnerable, feeling powerless and unheard. They may not understand why they have been removed from their homes or may struggle with feelings of guilt. This has serious consequences for their well-being and development.

Anouk Goemans, Professor of Youth Care and Child Protection, is researching how to better ensure that children’s voices are heard in out-of-home placements. “Intervening in family life is a drastic measure. Children often ask, ‘Could I still see my mother or father sometimes?’ because, despite everything, they often still want to be with their parents. These children have the right to be heard, and their opinions should matter. Through this research, I hope to provide concrete guidance on how we can achieve that.”

What Role Does a Lack of Trust Play?
Children who have experienced difficult situations at home often have little trust in adults and care professionals. This can make them hesitant to express their opinions, as they may feel that no one listens to them. This research aims to examine the role of trust in out-of-home placements and whether it can be restored so that children feel more empowered to speak up and so that professionals understand what children need to make their voices heard.

How Can a Support Figure Help?
In several countries, children in out-of-home placements are supported by a dedicated mentor or advocate. This person helps to ensure that the child’s voice is heard, explains what is happening, and looks out for their best interests. This study will explore what works best and what children’s experiences are with such support figures. The findings will be used to develop evidence-based recommendations for implementing similar support in the Netherlands.

Children with lived experience of out-of-home placement will play a crucial role in this research. Their insights, combined with scientific knowledge, will form the foundation for practical outcomes, such as policy recommendations for decision-makers and professionals, as well as practical tools for children and youth care workers.

Donate Now and Give Children a Voice
Every child matters. The knowledge we gather through this research will help make out-of-home placements less harmful. This is vital for the child, the family, and society as a whole. Together, we can help children grow into resilient adults.