Local youth policy
With this policy document, the municipality of Wassenaar has chosen a clear course: a preventive approach that focuses on opportunities and a shift from Health prevention wherever possible. For the first time, there is an integrated youth policy document that responds to growing social challenges and the need for cohesion. The world in which young people live is changing rapidly and requires a future-oriented approach that focuses on prevention, cooperation, and strengthening the social foundation. Instead of only taking action when problems arise, we focus on preventing them by strengthening the social foundation, normalizing parenting questions, and investing in collective facilities. We build on existing strengths: an active community, involved parents, sporty and creative young people, and strong partnerships. By connecting areas such as education, health, safety, sports, culture, livelihood security, and participation, we create a solid foundation in which young people can grow up healthy, safe, and with opportunities.
The Wassenaar Social Team (STW) plays a key role in this: it is easily accessible and connected to schools, general practitioners, youth mental health care practitioners, and social partners. Youth policy is structured around two social tasks and two interrelated preconditions:
- Parenting together: strengthening the social foundation by investing in community spirit, parent networks, and informal support, normalizing parenting challenges, and supporting parents in their role.
- Growing up healthy, safe, and resilient: with room for mental and physical development and relaxation.
- Everyone participates: every young person and parent matters and participates (subject to conditions).
- Accessible facilities close to home: investing in collective facilities as a foundation for prevention (precondition).
We pay special attention to young people who grow up with a disability, with care responsibilities, or in vulnerable circumstances. They deserve timely and appropriate support so that they too can develop their talents. Inclusion and equal opportunities are therefore a common thread throughout this policy.