How do you decide on the future of a child placed in care?
Research project image: Unsplash+
When a child is placed in care, the assumption is always that the child can return home again. But there are still many questions about how this process - the 'permanency plan' - is arranged. New research aims to provide insights.
Professor Mariëlle Bruning and Professor Anouk Goemans have received a grant of arou €250,000 to conduct new research on permanency planning for children placed in care. The grant has been awarded by BREN ZH, a network of youth care professionals.
Compulsory out-of-home placements
Every year in the Netherlands, almost 10,000 children are forcibly placed in care. In these situations, the goal is always for the children to return home, provided it is safe and feasible. The question of where the best place is for a child to grow up – at home or elsewhere – is central when it comes to determining a permanency plan. This is often an emotionally difficult process involving uncertainty among children, parents and professionals. Despite the significant impact of out-of-home placement, little scientific research has been conducted on what this process should ideally look like.
The research
The project will entail three separate studies:
- Experiential experts will share their knowledge on how to determine a permanency plan.
- A literature study will identify existing knowledge and methods.
- Interviews with professionals from certified institutions, the Child Care and Protection Board and youth care providers to provide insights into current practices.
The results will contribute to the professionalisation of youth care workers. In addition, they will form the basis for the development of a new method for permanency planning.