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People who report suspected child abuse or domestic violence are waiting an average of 2 months for national domestic violence network Veilig Thuis to act, and the agency itself now says it can no longer guarantee it will pick up every sign of danger in time.
The network of organisations told broadcaster NOS on Tuesday that it needs €70 million from the cabinet over the coming years to take on extra staff and push through reforms.
By law, Veilig Thuis must carry out a safety assessment within 5 working days of receiving a report. Roughly half of reports have missed that deadline in recent years, and some families wait more than 6 months.
“Normally the waiting list gets a little shorter over the summer, but that hasn’t happened this time,” Ida Ouweneel, a board member of the national network, told NOS. Reports usually rise in the autumn, she said. “We can’t get through them. It can’t go on like this.”
All incoming reports are screened, she said, and cases of acute danger skip the waiting list and are dealt with immediately.
Growing backlog
Reports to Veilig Thuis rose 5% to 136,000 last year, according to national statistics office CBS. The agency says it welcomes the greater awareness, but that cases are also becoming more complex.
“Every day when I start up my computer, I see the number of reports getting bigger,” said Colinda Guiljam, who works for Veilig Thuis in Zeeland. “At the start of this year there were just over 30 reports on the waiting list in Zeeland. Now there are almost 400.”
Ouweneel said the backlog is driven by shortages and waiting lists across youth care, which leave vulnerable children without help and lead to more reports. “Our waiting list is a consequence of youth care grinding to a halt,” she said.
Budget debate
The health and youth care inspectorate IGJ has warned about waiting times for years. Criticism grew in May when it emerged that a 6-year-old girl in Stadskanaal had been severely abused despite several reports to the agency, which has said it acted on them immediately.
Mirjam Sterk, the centrist Christian Democrat (CDA) minister responsible for youth care, told NOS she will meet local council executives, local authorities association VNG and Veilig Thuis soon to discuss what is needed. She did not say whether extra money would be made available.
MPs will debate the health budget, which covers Veilig Thuis, on Wednesday and Thursday.
If you have experienced or are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, Veilig Thuis (Safe at Home) offers confidential advice 24 hours a day on 0800 2000 or at veiligthuis.nl. In an emergency, call 112.