Politics and youthcare

Posted on | November 2, 2009 | 302No CommentsPolitics+and+youthcare2009-11-02+16%3A44%3A40Laane

In 2005 we got a new law which would bring heaven on earth for those needing care for their children.

Young people who needed support were not required anymore to go to different organizations to be diagnosed, receive support, guidance, therapy.

Just one place would be sufficient: youthcare.

Ofcourse it was not enough to listen to parents, who have been telling that nothing changed. That in facts matters got worse, because of more bureaucracy.
No, a special committee was needed to study if the new law works.

And this independent group of experts have decided: it doesn’t work.

Parents are going from organization to organization.
Because the diagnosis should be independent, the diagnostician can’t be the therapist.
The objective diagnosis should not be written towards the availability of care, but should be a protocolled indication (whatever that might be) independent of the system of care.

The minister is still stating that all young people should receive the care they need.
He also said that he would come with a better plan by january.

So that means more months struggling for families and young people. Precious months.

And does he really think he can change the system within a few months, a year, several years?

I’m one of the huge amount of parents who are dealing with that system on a day to day basis.

I have dealt with the enormous amount of waitinglists.

Waiting for my child to be diagnosed, waiting to get advice for therapy, waiting to have it acknowledged by youthcare so there’s money available, waiting… waiting…
Oh, did I say the minister wanted the waitinglists to disappear?

People who really care about the wellbeing of my children are tied to stupid rules and regulations, a lack of money and managers who inhibit their independent actions.
They need to write down every footstep they put on this earth, every word, every scratch on their heads.

So in the end I go somewhere else with my children.
Grateful that there was a person with a good heart,
cherishing the smiles I got, the words of encouragement, the pat on my back.

I’ve learned a lot.

That bad care shouldn’t be paid.
That it doesn’t help to threaten to bring parents to court when their children with special needs don’t fit into the system.
That organizations shouldn’t be subsidized, because good management doesn’t always mean good care.
That experts should be relieved from administration. They need good secretaries.
That parents should be responsible for the files of their children, or when they can’t, their family physician or someone they consider a good contact person.
That small organisations that help parents with filling in forms should be forbidden by law.
One diagnosis, one form which is a ticket to all care needed.
And parents who decide which experts are experts, not the experts themselves, not the organization they work for.

Need I go on???

Just send Minister Rouwvoet to me.
He studied law, I studied social sciences and I’m a psychologist.
But above all: I’m a mom of 4 children who needed the system and got only a small part of the care they needed and need.

I’m waiting.