Youth-Centered Intervention to Lower the Threshold to Municipal Support and Help Youth Come to Terms with the Dutch Childcare Benefits Scandal: Case Report

Background

The Dutch childcare benefits scandal (toeslagenschandaal) involved the wrongful labeling of thousands of parents as fraudsters in the childcare allowance system. This led to long-term harm for families and a profound trust crisis in governmental institutions. While the national recovery operation provided financial compensation, municipalities were tasked with offering broader support across life domains to youth who grew up in affected families. Central to this effort was helping them "come to terms" with the scandal by acknowledging, processing, and moving forward from its practical and emotional consequences. Yet, many youths remain hard to reach due to distrust and avoidance of institutional contact.