Youth support

Support for children, young people and their parents or carers

Are you concerned about your child's well-being, behaviour or development? If so, it is good to know that various forms of youth support are available in the municipalities of Amstelveen, Aalsmeer, Uithoorn and Ouder-Amstel. This support is available for children and young people up to the age of 18, as well as for their parents or carers. There are two main ways to get help:

• Via your general practitioner and the Youth Practice Support Worker (POH Jeugd): This is accessible and free support for psychological or parenting questions. This assistance is available at many general practitioners' practices.
• Via the local authority: For more specialised or long-term assistance, you can contact your local council's social services department. Together, you can determine what kind of assistance best suits your situation.

The best route depends on the nature and severity of the request for assistance. Sometimes both routes can be used simultaneously, with the GP and local authority working together to arrange the best support for you and your child. Below you can read more about both forms of youth assistance.

POH Youth

The Youth POH is a professional within the general practice who provides support to children and young people aged 0 to 18, as well as their parents or carers. You can contact the Youth POH for help with psychological and social-emotional problems, or questions about parenting and development. For example:

• Your young child sleeps poorly or still wets the bed;
• Your school-aged child has performance anxiety or difficulty keeping up in class;
• Your teenager is struggling with anxiety, gloominess or difficult behaviour;
• You are seeking help in dealing with a divorce and what that means for your child.

The Youth POH works closely with the general practitioner and falls under their responsibility. The consultations are free of charge, as this assistance is covered by basic insurance and you do not pay any excess.

What does an appointment with a Youth POH look like?

The consultations take place at the GP practice. During the first consultation, the Youth POH will take the time to discuss with you and your child exactly what is going on. By asking specific questions, the Youth POH will get a good picture of the situation and what support is needed.

Sometimes, a short-term counselling programme provided by the Youth Mental Health Nurse is sufficient. For young people aged 12 and above, there is also the Minddistrict online programme, which provides additional support via eHealth.

Is further or different assistance required, for example from a youth doctor, school social worker or youth services? In that case, the Youth POH, together with the general practitioner, will arrange for an appropriate referral.

Request a consultation with the Youth POH

Would you like to speak to the Youth Mental Health Nurse Practitioner? Please contact your GP practice. When making the appointment, indicate that you would like support from the Youth Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The assistant will first schedule an appointment with the GP to discuss the situation. If appropriate, the GP will then refer you to the Youth Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Please note: Not every general practitioner's practice employs a Youth Health Nurse. Please enquire at your own practice about the possibilities.

Youth support via the local authority

If the request for assistance is more complex or requires specialist support, you can apply for youth assistance through your local authority. The local authorities of Amstelveen, Aalsmeer and Uithoorn offer various forms of youth assistance, such as:

• Advice on parenting issues
• Home-based support for families facing various problems
• Help with mental health issues and behavioural problems
• Foster care
• Living or staying in a youth institution
• Support for young people with disabilities (participation, self-reliance)

Applying for youth assistance

You can apply for youth assistance via your local council's social services office. You can also obtain a referral to the social services desk through your general practitioner, paediatrician, or medical specialist.

Sometimes it is possible to contact a youth care provider directly if they have a contract with the local authority.

• Aalsmeer: Information about youth services in Aalsmeer can be found on the website of the municipality of Aalsmeer: Youth and education | Municipality of Aalsmeer.
• Amstelveen: For more information and to apply for youth assistance, please visit the website of the municipality of Amstelveen: Applying for youth assistance – Municipality of Amstelveen.
• Uithoorn: For information about mental health care and youth support in Uithoorn, please visit the Uithoorn Helpt website: Mental health care | Uithoorn Helps!.
• Ouder-Amstel: For information and to apply for youth assistance in Ouder-Amstel, please visit the website of the municipality of Ouder-Amstel: Youth support in the municipality of Ouder-Amstel.