BabythuisZorg is family support in the first year of a child. Sometimes there are circumstances in a family that make it temporarily difficult for a child to feel safe and protected. BabythuisZorg can be used in any family with a baby up to one year of age that is temporarily not self-sufficient. This can be done, for example, as a continuation of the maternity period until the family can manage on its own again. BabythuisZorg can also be used separately from the maternity period.
The development we go through in our first years of life is great. During this time, all organs are laid out, we learn to crawl, walk, talk and bond with others. On this foundation we build the rest of our lives. During this period, it is especially important for a child to feel protected and safe. When this is temporarily not possible a family, a BabythuisZorg employee can provide support.
Based on an indication from a municipality, we can provide several hours of care per day, for several days or weeks in a row. If necessary, we can also provide 24-hour care.
BabythuisZorg originated in the northern Netherlands and was set up by the maternity care organizations Kraamzorg Het Groene Kruis and Isis Kraamzorg. Maternity nurses regularly found that young families still needed support after the maternity period. The demand for additional support could not be given in the market by existing parties. From here, we investigated whether the maternity care organizations just mentioned could provide this support themselves. This research led to the launch of BabythuisZorg in May 2019.
In 2019 and 2020, the product was offered in the three northern provinces of the Netherlands. Since a need for additional family support was also found to be greatly needed in the rest of the country, BabythuisZorg has begun a national rollout in early 2021. Through collaboration with other maternity care organizations in the Netherlands, BabythuisZorg is now offered in more and more provinces and municipalities.
All information about our cooperation partners and providers of BabythuisZorg in the different municipalities can be found here: Franchisenemers – BabythuisZorg
BabythuisZorg is family support for families with a child up to about 1 year who are temporarily not self-sufficient. It is an individual customized service in the social domain, which works in addition to maternity care and youth health care. We offer accessible and early support to parents with young children. The goal is to prevent problems later in life.
After applying for BabythuisZorg, we identify the support needs in various areas of life. We then offer practical help and look for ways to restore the parent(s) to self-sufficiency as soon as possible.
We help parents strengthen their existing skills, with specific focus on caring for their newborn, creating structure and peace in the family, and protecting their mental well-being. Together, we work to strengthen the bond between parent and child. Our support is usually sufficient to enable parents to continue independently. If necessary, we refer to more specialized forms of assistance.
In addition, we fulfill an important role in noticing early signs of neglect and domestic violence. Through this signaling function, we strive to intervene in time and provide appropriate support.
BabythuisZorg is financed under the Youth Act and/or the Social Support Act. This means that approval must be obtained from the municipality where the client lives before BabythuisZorg can be deployed. After receiving the request, BabythuisZorg will contact the municipality for this purpose. In a large number of municipalities, we now have good cooperation agreements and can deploy quickly. If you would like more information about this, please contact us.
BabythuisZorg is for families where the duration and intensity of regular birth care is insufficient. When there is an entitlement to extended maternity care (financed through the Health Insurance Act), this is considered an underlying provision and BabythuisZorg will not be used.
Another important condition for success is a good relationship with the parent(s) and acceptance of the support offered. It is an advantage that BabythuisZorg is affiliated with a maternity care organization. The maternity nurse is the only caregiver who spends eight to ten days behind the front door in a family. This enables her to build a bond of trust and creates an entry point for assistance. Even structural care avoiders can sometimes be reached in this way.
BabythuisZorg employees are specialists in caring for babies and supporting parents during pregnancy and the first year of life. BabythuisZorg employees mostly have a background in maternity care and are additionally trained and educated to support vulnerable parents during the first year of life.
Background in maternity care increases the likelihood of acceptance of support. Maternity care reaches 98% of families and is approachable and accepted care. Maternity nurses see families in their most vulnerable period and combine practical care with mental support. They are able to communicate at various levels in families and build a bond of trust in a short period of time. This means that even potential care avoiders can sometimes be reached by BabythuisZorg.
Additional training and education makes BabythuisZorg employees specialists when it comes to supporting parents in vulnerable situations. They are equipped to provide support with psychological/psychiatric, social and medical issues. They are trained in communication, including in situations involving safety and domestic violence. They are also equipped to collaborate with chain partners. Above all, BabythuisZorg employees are able to work methodically, coordinate with parents and referrers about support goals, and draw up a plan that systematically works toward a result.
Nederlands