Maren Zeller

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 out-of-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.

Traps in transition – a biographical approach to forms of collaboration between youth welfare services and employment promotion agencies

Changes in European and German social and labour market policies have particular consequences for the transition into adulthood of disadvantaged young people. This paper discusses these effects, especially as they impinge upon those who, as a result of such changes, leave social care earlier than planned. In so doing, they often come under the provisions of the employment promotion system, which provides insufficient support for them in light of their difficult life circumstances. By employing autobiographical narratives and reconstructions, the consequences of these sociopolitical changes are described in detail. Three typical ‘‘trap situations’’ are created under such conditions for young adults and their educational facilitators. These will be explained with reference to case studies.

Transnational networks and border-crossing activities of young refugees

The burgeoning research and literature on transnationalism in different academic disciplines was initiated by insights into new patterns of migration discovered by anthropologists in the early 1990s (Appadurai, 1991; Glick Schiller, Basch, & Blanc-Szanton, 1992). While many studies on transnational migration focus on voluntary and economic migration, little is known about the transnational ways of being and belonging of refugees and forced migrants (cf. also the research report of Yolanda Weima (2017)). The literature on the transnational situation of refugees is concentrated on political activities of adult migrants who are recognized as refugees and, particularly, on those with a specific cultural or national background, e.g., from Eritrea, Bosnia, or Burundi (cf. Al-Ali, Black, & Koser, 2001; Mascini, Fermin, & Snick, 2012). There is still a significant dearth of research on the meaning of transnational practices among (recognized) refugees and how this situation affects their cross-border activities. This research report takes up this lack of knowledge on refugee transnationalism and focuses particularly on unaccompanied minor refugees1 as a specific group of refugees and refugee claimants. For many young people, it is characteristic that adult relatives are living in their countries of origin, still facing difficult or life-threatening situations. Furthermore, their life stage as youth transitioning to adulthood differs from those of adult refugees, e.g., in terms of their permission to work, or schooling, housing, legal rights, and obligations, but also with regard to their life course as emerging adults (Arnett, 2000). Many unaccompanied young people under the age of 18 are arriving in Germany as forced migrants.2 Those who are between the ages of 16 and 18 have little time to prepare for their transition to adulthood (Andernach & Tavanger, 2014). In Germany, refugee youth are treated differently than their adult fellows who will be accommodated in a refugee shelter until they are transferred to the receiving community. Unaccompanied minor refugees3 however, fall under the legal framework of the Child and Youth Care Act (Social Code Book VIII). In contrast to German youth in care, they often stay in care only for a short period of time. Although there are no official numbers yet, many of them have to leave their accommodation in residential care when they turn 18. While young people in care in Germany have the right to stay in care until the age of 21 if necessary, this option is used to a lesser extent for young refugees. Therefore, young refugees face the challenge to establish local support networks, find school or vocational training, learn German, and live independently in an unfamiliar cultural area within a short time frame.

The Drawback of Getting By—Implicit Imbalances in the Educational Support of Young People in and Leaving Care in Germany

Young people who grow up in institutions with public-sector responsibility (e.g. residential homes, foster families) are disproportionately affected in nearly all countries by social disadvantages and exclusion. Throughout their educational careers and on their way to adulthood, they often are unable to fall back on family support and are, in this respect, dependent on public infrastructure and extra-familial forms of informal support. As a result, the path to adulthood for these young people, as shown by nearly all international studies, is marked by many barriers to transition. Extensive research indicates that care leavers are one of the most vulnerable and excluded groups among young people.

Entwicklung von Professionalität – zur Bedeutung von Praktika im Studium

Fur viele Studierende stellen ins Studium integrierte Praktika wichtige Lernorte und eine zentrale Chance zur Entwicklung von Professionalitat dar. Worin diese Professionalisierungschancen liegen wird im folgenden Beitrag ebenso konkretisiert, wie die organisatorische Einbettung und fachliche Begleitung von Praktika innerhalb erziehungswissenschaftlicher Studiengange. Den Ausgangspunkt der vorgestellten Uberlegungen bilden die Erfahrungen und professionstheoretischen Reflexionen der Autorinnen, allesamt ehemalige studentische Mitarbeiterinnen im Praktikumsburo des Instituts fur Erziehungswissenschaft der Universitat Tubingen.

Children’s lives away from home: Transnational perspectives

Millions of children and youth live their lives away from home, sometimes for relatively short periods of time, and sometimes for much of their childhood. Life away from home can take many different forms; some children and youth are placed in state or private care outside of their families, be that because they have been orphaned due to war or disease, because they have suffered abuse, or because their homes lack the necessary conditions to provide adequate care for them (Gharabaghi, 2009; Tomlinson, Gonzalez, & Barton, 2011). Others live away from home to escape violence in their home environment, war, chronic poverty, or more generally conditions that are unacceptable for young persons (Ellis, 2009; Watters, 2000). These children and youth are often refugees, arriving in new countries unaccompanied and without a plan. Again others live away from home either because they seek out the perceived adventure of street life, or more commonly, because the streets are preferable to whatever issues they might have to confront in their homes (Allan & Robinson, 2014; Kyle, 2009). Increasingly, the human trafficking networks around the world are trapping many children and youth. This almost always involves some element of sex work, sex slavery, or child pornography (Martin, 2014; Shelley, 2010). Of course, living away from home does not always mean living without parents or other family members. In refugee camps, for example, children and youth are often living with family, but away from the place they might have considered home prior to war or conflict (Dalton, 2005). Living away from home does not always imply a problematic situation either. Many children and youth attend boarding schools, for example, not because there are problems at home, but instead in order to pursue an excellent education sponsored by the wealth of their families (Kingston & Lewis, 1990). Many scenarios where children and youth live away from home have no obvious transnational dimension. The situation of children and youth living away from home is often framed as the responsibility of the nation state. The strong focus on the welfare state and the hegemonic position of researchers in western countries has strengthened a national perspective (rather than a global one) and the idea that the nation state is the frame to organize education and social communities. Furthermore, these children and young people are very often labeled as recipients of foster and residential care or psychiatric care in nations states. Nevertheless, there are some exceptions to this national approach, such as in the case of Germany and a few other European countries where

Tamaño diferente, retos similares: medidas de protección a la infancia con separación familiar en Alemania y Holanda

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 out-of-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.

Different sizes, similar challenges = Tamaño diferente, retos similares : Out-of-home care for youth in Germany and the Netherlands = Medidas de protección a la infancia con separación familiar en Alemania y Holanda

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 out-of-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.

Different sizes, similar challenges

En este articulo se abordan las dificultades existentes para ofrecer de forma efectiva programas de tratamiento para hombres violentos contra su pareja. Se analiza con detalle la efectividad de las intervenciones psicologicas disponibles para hombres maltratadores, tanto a nivel internacional como a nivel espanol. En todos los estudios revisados las tasas de abandono del tratamiento en este tipo de personas son muy altas. En diferentes estudios se han senalado multiples causas psicologicas y sociales para explicar la pobre adherencia al tratamiento en los hombres maltratadores. Se describen los principales predictores del abandono del tratamiento. Por tanto, se han comenzado a desarrollar estrategias motivacionales con el fin de fortalecer el compromiso de los participantes con el cambio, basadas en la identificacion de los objetivos terapeuticos y en el diseno de estrategias para alcanzarlos. Por ultimo, se sugieren algunas vias para hacer frente con exito a estas dificultades. Es necesario implementar estrategias orientadas especificamente a mejorar la motivacion para el cambio. Se comentan las implicaciones de este estudio para la practica clinica y la investigacion futura