Few out-of-home placements for children and young people in Zurich
protective measures
Few out-of-home placements for children and young people in Zurich
The child and adult protection authority (Kesb) of the city of Zurich ordered a total of 991 new counselors in 2021. While the new measures in children and young people remained stable compared to the previous year, there was a clear but not unusual increase in adults.
Last year, the Kesb City of Zurich issued 530 new adult protection measures, as announced on Tuesday. That was significantly more than in 2020, when 474 estates were ordered.
There are always certain fluctuations, according to Kesb in the documents for a media talk. From 2016 to 2021, the number of adult residents in the city of Zurich also grew by 4.3 percent, and the number of new adult protection measures by 5.2 percent in the same period.
There were practically no changes in the reorganization of child protection measures: 461 were counted in 2021, and 460 in 2020. In the previous years, the number fluctuated between 351 and 422.
The Kesb of the city of Zurich – like the twelve other Kesb authorities in the canton – has the task of protecting and supporting children and adults if they themselves or their families are not or no longer sufficiently able to do so.
Children from the age of six are heard
The Kesb also makes third-party placements. Children and young people are rarely housed outside of their own family, as it is a serious encroachment on the rights of their parents, as it was said at the media conference.
There must be a serious threat to the well-being of the child. In addition, milder measures would have to have failed or appear hopeless from the outset. From the age of six, all children are heard personally.
In the city of Zurich, there are about 8 placements for every 10,000 minors. Last year, the Kesb City of Zurich placed 58 minors away from their families in homes or with foster families. Since 2016, the number has fluctuated between 54 and 73. (sda)