Unaccompanied minors in the Netherlands and the care facility in which they flourish best

Margrite Kalverboer*, Elianne Zijlstra, Carla van Os, Daniëlle Zevulun, Mijntje ten Brummelaar, Daan Beltman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)
284 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study compares the views of unaccompanied minors living in four different types of care facilities in the Netherlands: namely in foster care, small living units, children's living groups and campuses on their wellbeing, living circumstances and place in Dutch society. Interviews with 132 minors were both qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Based on the transcripts from the interviews the researchers completed a questionnaire (BIC-Q) to judge the quality of the child rearing environment in the different types of care facilities.

Minors in foster care fare best and are most positive about their place in Dutch society. Minors in small living units and small living groups often miss affectionate bonds, care, support and stability in their lives. Minors in campuses most often expressed feeling lonely and sad and being excluded from the Dutch society. They experience a lack of care and support from adults. The quality of the child rearing environment in campuses was judged by the researchers as being so low that these facilities appear to be unfit for unaccompanied minors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)587-596
Number of pages10
JournalChild & Family Social Work
Volume22
Issue number2
Early online date24-Feb-2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May-2017

Keywords

  • unaccompanied minors
  • separated children
  • care facilities
  • foster care
  • home
  • child rearing environment
  • ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN
  • REFUGEE YOUNG-PEOPLE
  • MENTAL-HEALTH
  • EXPERIENCES
  • SUPPORT
  • RISK
  • UK

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