More than 100 thousand children in youth care
In 2012, 103 thousand young people (approximately 3 percent) received youth care. Amsterdam has the highest number of children in youth care, but the highest proportion of children in youth care was recorded in the municipality of Kerkrade.
Often ambulatory care
More than half of young people in youth care received ambulatory care (57.8 thousand children). Supervision was also common (39.4 thousand children). Approximately 20 thousand children received foster care.
Youth care recipients by type of care, 2012
One quarter of young people received two types of care in 2012 and 15 percent received three or more types of care. Nearly 15 thousand children, for example, were placed under supervision and also received ambulatory youth care. Another frequent combination is guardianship and foster care (more than 5.5 thousand children).
Highest number on major cities
Currently, youth care services are funded by the provinces. As from 1 January 2015, municipal authorities will be responsible. With 7.5 thousand, Amsterdam had the highest number of children in youth care in 2012, followed by Rotterdam (5.5 thousand), The Hague with 3.8 thousand and Utrecht with 2 thousand.
Highest proportion outside major cities
If the young population in the municipality is taken into account, 4.9 percent of young people in Amsterdam received youth care, but the proportions were higher in the municipalities of Kerkrade (6.5 percent), Den Helder (5.9 percent) en Heerlen (5.7 percent). In the municipalities of Tubbergen, Blaricum and De Wolden, the proportions were very low, i.e. below 1 percent. Nationwide, 2.9 percent in the young population received youth care.
Share of people aged 18 years or younger receiving youth care, by municipality, 2012
More boys than girls in youth care
Among all young people receiving youth care in 2012, 57 percent were boys. The average age for both boys and girls in youth care is 12 years.
Children in youth care by gender and age, 2012
Rudi Bakker and Marc Aaldijk