Integrated approach towards Roma complex

families Nieuwegein

Visit delegation Karvina17 October 2013

1. Background

Nieuwegein is host municipality of Roma families since 1978.

Today: Roma community of around 400 persons (total migrant population: 12.000 people)

Living in houses, scattered through Nieuwegein.

Decreasing unity among the community

Few contacts with other inhabitants of Nieuwegein

Main problems :

- absenteeism from school - unemployment & dependence on social benefits- debt problems - high crime rates- anti social behaviour in living areas - health problems - discrimination.

1. Background

2. Integrated approach towards Roma complex families

•Start new approach: beginning of 2009

•Basic principles: • Dutch laws and rules are maintained in a

consistent way • We offer Roma families a perspective by helping

them to improve their participation in society.

•Focus on Roma child & family

•Tailor made approach

•Financial investment per year: € 350.000,-

5 Main objectives:

·1) improving the schooling of Roma children

·2) decreasing the reliance on social benefits

·3) decreasing poverty

·4) decreasing anti social behavior in living areas

·5) decreasing of criminality

·No strict targets, learning by doing

2. Integrated approach

Methodology Wisselgeld (“Exchange”)

Goal: to reach a positive change in the family system, with a focus on the child, the parents and the living environment

Target group: Roma complex families with children in Nieuwegein

Input: Two mediators/ 1 project leader who work according to “one family, one plan, one director”

Basic principle: “I give you something (assistance), but in return I expect you to give me something back”

2. Integrated approach

Characteristics of complex families

· Families with problems in several areas

· (housing, unemployment, health, low level of education, etc)

· Problems differ per family, but are interrelated

· Families have also problems with the way the government and other institutions organize their services.

Participants Wisselgeld

• Office of the public prosecutor• Police• 3 Housing corporations• Welfare/community work (Movactor)• Social Work (Vitras CMD)• Province of Utrecht• Bureau Youth Care• Council of Child Protection• Public Health Service

•cooperation of primary schools•cooperation of secondary schools.

Municipal departments:• Compulsary education• Social affairs• Integration• Debt relief

2. Integrated approach

2. Integrated approach

Other activities within programme

· Dialogue with Roma families

· Information sessions & development of expertise

· Training in “ working with diversity”

· Media attention & discussion

· Lobby towards national government

· Participation in a national platform

· European activities: Labour Plus

3. Results pilot 2009-2012

·General

·27 Roma families participating in the Wisselgeld approach.

·Targets of five family plans were achieved.

·Better coordination and cooperation of services and institutions

·More unity and consistency in approach of institutions

·Better knowledge on Roma families and the background of their problems

·Because of better information: easier to develop an effective family approach

3. Results pilot 2009-2012

· Specific: education

· Primary education

· Participation has largely increased in the past years

· Roma pupils are present in almost all primary schools in Nieuwegein

· · Secondary education

· Concentration in lower level education

· Slow progress in participation. Now: 33% is going to school, 36% is absent every now and then, 31% is not even enrolled in school.

· Girls participate less than boys.

· Important bottleneck: switch from primary to secondary school.

4. Results pilot 2009-2012

· Specific: employment

· Less dependency on social benefits (check legal right to allowances)

· Few Roma clients participate in language courses or activation courses towards work

· Still few Roma involved in employment

4. Results pilot 2009-2012

· Specific:

· Less anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood

· Higher participation in debt relief programmes

· Criminal offences: no quantitative information available, but less criminal behavior of children reported by Youthcare

5. Current state of affairs

· End of 2011: Approval of the board of Mayor & Aldermen and city council to continue the programme

· From 2012: the approach is no longer focused on Roma families only

· From 2013: the team of mediators/ case managers has been extended to 4 and has become a permanent team of municipal organization

· Challenge: to maintain the specific knowledge on Roma

6. Recommendations

1. An integrated approach of “setting limits as well as offering perspectives” is essential to achieve progress in participation of Roma complex families.

Recommendations2. A general local policy or approach towards Roma will not be useful in improving the participation of Roma citizens. An individual approach is the only way.

Recommendations3. The local municipality can’t do it alone. It is necessary to build a local and regional network of multi level organisations co-operating together in a consistent and consequent way.

Recommendations4. Roma representatives have to take up their responsibility as well to improve the participation of their own group, but also to find solutions to the problems that some of them cause to others.

Recommendations

5. There will be no quick results: the problems of Roma are complex and have a long history. It will take many years to solve these problems and therefore it is necessary that both local and national governments commit themselves to continue with their integral programmes for a long time.

QUESTIONS ?