Early support for families in Oldambt cuts costly specialized youth care
Families in Oldambt now receive quick, accessible support without bureaucracy, reducing the need for expensive specialized youth care. This preventive approach saves costs and empowers families to tackle challenges early, benefiting both residents and the municipality.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiative | SoWiesO (Sociaal Werk Oldambt) |
| Target Group | Young people and families in Oldambt |
| Access | No referral or complicated procedures required |
| Research Bureau | Cigarbox |
| Savings | Preventive approach reduces heavier care costs |
| Municipality | Oldambt, Groningen |
| Presented to | Alderman Jurrie Nieboer |
| Date of Presentation | March 16, 2024 |
The municipality of Oldambt is responsible for organizing youth and family support services, ensuring accessible care for residents. By investing in preventive social work, the municipality aims to reduce long-term costs and improve community well-being.
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Low-threshold support for young people and families reduces need for specialized care
Low-threshold support for young people and families helps families and ensures that less specialized care needs to be deployed. This is evident from a business case by SoWiesO of Sociaal Werk Oldambt, which was presented to alderman Jurrie Nieboer on March 16. The business case lists the costs and benefits of the project.
No complicated procedures
SoWiesO is the general facility for youth and family support in the municipality of Oldambt. Parents, children, and young people can turn to it without referral or complicated procedures. The support is nearby, easily accessible, and focused on what families themselves need and can use. Professionals look together with parents and children for solutions that fit their situation and their environment.
Preventive approach
This way of working often prevents the need for heavier and more expensive youth care. According to the business case by research bureau Cigarbox, the preventive approach of SoWiesO saves on heavier care costs. Because problems are seen and addressed earlier, families have more control over their own situation.
Quick response
The approach aligns with a broader development in the social domain. Municipalities are looking for ways to organize support earlier, simpler, and closer to residents. The municipality of Oldambt is leading the way. Social work plays an important role in this approach. Professionals in the neighborhood know the living environment of residents and can quickly respond when there are concerns about parenting, development, or the well-being of families. For residents, this means that help becomes more accessible and that they receive the right support faster. For municipalities, the business case shows that investing in prevention and social work pays off: both socially and financially.