Cooperation among youth services regions is paying off

Over the past three years, the three youth care regions (North Limburg, Central Limburg East, and Central Limburg West) have worked closely together to improve residential youth care. This type of care involves a child or young person temporarily living away from home, staying at a youth care facility where they receive treatment. 

Thanks to this new approach to collaboration, the number of young people being admitted has dropped significantly. Young people with complex issues are more often receiving support in their own communities. Following a comprehensive evaluation, the municipalities and youth service providers have decided to improve the agreements. They are also extending the contracts by three years, effective January 1, 2026.

Why this extension?

Since 2023, municipalities and youth service providers have been working more closely together to help children stay at home as much as possible. This new approach ensures that fewer young people are placed in institutions, that the number of days spent in care decreases, and that more support is provided in their own communities. Cooperation has improved, mutual trust has grown, and through the joint assessment process—the Special Assessment—it is easier to determine which type of support is most appropriate.

New appointments

Starting in 2026, new agreements will take effect to ensure higher quality and stronger collaboration:

  • A clearer target audience: the description of the target audience has been refined to ensure that children are not left out.
  • New financial system: municipalities pay a fixed amount for availability and an additional fee for each service provided, giving them greater control over costs.
  • More frequent consultations and improved quality control: municipalities and service providers meet regularly to discuss quality based on data during new quality review meetings.
  • Annual plans: Providers and municipalities work together each year to develop a plan with specific goals.

Positive development

This approach takes time, but we can see that it works. More and more young people are receiving support in their own communities, which means that intensive Health is needed Health often. With the extension of the contract, we can maintain and further strengthen this positive trend, together with our partners,

says Alderman van Helden.