Children placed in out-of-home care were abused for years in a care home: punching in the ears, child labor and dog bites

Two children aged ten and nine who were placed in out-of-home care were abused in a ‘family home’ for approximately three years. The caregivers systematically dealt blows with the fist or flat of the hand, as well as slaps on the ears. The victims were also bitten by a dog, which left them with a serious wound and scar. They had to keep quiet about the dog bites, the doctor was avoided.

Furthermore, the minors, who stayed on a farm, had to clear away dead animals, muck out and clean cages. It appears that if this child labor was not completed on time, they would not receive food an interim statement of the Northern Netherlands District Court, which was published on Tuesday. The abuse started a month after placement, approximately three years ago.

According to the juvenile judge, the statement made by the children is “detailed, specific and consistent.” The judge used a “neutral interview method” to avoid influence as much as possible.

There had been doubts about the pedagogical skills of the caretakers of the family home for some time, the court stated. When one of the children arrived at school with an untreated bite wound, the principal sounded the alarm. After a conversation with the youth protector, both children were “immediately” transferred to another family home.

The court wants the police and the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) to investigate the case further.

Family homes

Family homes are a form of youth care in which permanent supervisors – often couples – provide professional care to children and young people between 0 and 24 years old throughout the week. After responsibility for youth care fell to the municipality in 2015, such houses are on the rise.

The William Schrikker Foundation had custody of the two children. This organization was also responsible for the abused ‘Vlaardingen foster girl’. She had broken bones, stretch marks, brain damage and was malnourished. However, care providers had the impression that the foster family got along well with the victim, without checking in at home. The court will rule in that case next Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the foundation stilt opposite Dagblad van het Noorden that the case of the two children differs from the issue with the Vlaardingen foster girl, “because in this case there was an immediate response to signals and the children were brought to safety.” In the case of the two children, the foundation has reported it to the Inspectorate, she writes in an email declaration. A report was also filed against the family caregivers.

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