In Rotterdam, the city with the most poverty in the Netherlands, on average one in six children grows up in a family struggling with poverty. Debts, or the threat of an empty fridge or eviction, cause a lot of stress. This stress puts pressure on the ability of parents and children to act and think, and makes them less able to make long-term decisions. This may mean that there is no overview of bills and agreements and that parents pay less attention to their children or are less patient. Moreover, families living in poverty are more likely to live in less safe neighbourhoods, with poorer role models and fewer facilities, which has a profound impact on the daily lives, health and wellbeing of all family members and the future prospects of children and young people.
Lectorate Child Poverty
The lectorate Child Poverty focuses on the question of how professionalism can be shaped in such a way that it contributes optimally to the identification of child poverty and the creation of stability and perspective for children. Because poverty often involves more than just a lack of money, children, young people and (future) parents who are struggling with poverty have problems in several areas. This makes dealing with families in poverty complex, which can lead to a lack of action on the part of professionals. The professorship therefore wants to strengthen the action perspective and the professional structure.
