EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Prevention plan for immigrant youths 2002-2005

Prevention plan for immigrant youths 2002-2005

Introduction

The main objective of the PRIMA plan, Prevention plan for immigrant youths 2002-2005, was to make the general services in Oss more accessible to all residents. The idea was to better gear the general services to the immigrant community.

Problem

How can the immigrant community be involved in the policy of the local authorities of Oss?

Description

The total PRIMA plan consists of six smaller projects. The immigrant community plays an important role in both the plan-forming process and the implementation process. To this end, a participation process is used in which various panels and ad hoc groups from the community think about, talk about and monitor the implementation.

Approach

In the participation project, 4 panels (fathers, mothers, experts and self-help organisations) and a focus group of youths from the Turkish community are involved starting with the plan-forming process of the PRIMA projects.

In 2006 and 2007, these panels will be continued in a wider perspective, and the members will discuss the general community policy. To prepare for this, the panels are currently being expanded with members from the various immigrant groups in the city of Oss.

Results

All panels have 10 to 12 members. The self-help organisation panels have fewer members, as there are 6 self-help organisations in Oss. The focus group consists of 15 members.
The participation employee ensures that the participation in the participation project goes well in both a quantitative and qualitative sense.
The panel construction is a new way to get involved in local authority policy. This is new for the target group. In addition, contributing ideas and talking about the way in which bottlenecks are tackled is a new experience for many participants.
There is both an individual and group-orientated approach. The panel members are stimulated to make an active contribution. In addition, an inventory is made of the need for promoting professionalism, so that services can be offered in a more pointed way.
The participation employee is the intermediary between the panel members, the local authorities and the network in which the PRIMA plan is embedded.

Resources used

EUR 447,000 has been allocated to finance the PRIMA plan for three years.

Contact info

City of Oss
M. Kurvers, tel. +31 41 2629267

Project start date

01/03/2002

Links

City of Oss (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services