How do day care participants make the step to (sheltered) employment?
25 January 2023
The University for Humanistic Studies starts 1 March with research into the wishes, needs and opportunities of day care participants trying to make the step from day care to (sheltered) work. The research is made possible by Instituut Gak as part of the 'Step-by-Step programme'.
How do day care participants make the step to (sheltered) employment? In policy and practice, the emphasis is often on economic factors, such as the level of salary or loss of benefits or allowances. But for 'full participation', socio-cultural and political factors are also important, such as appreciation, control and support from the institutional and social environment.
This study looks at the role of all these factors. It also examines how those factors carry over from the past into the present and future perspectives. The life stories of day care participants are the starting point. For instance, growing up in poverty may make a difference to how much someone values the level of salary in a future job. Attention to life stories enables us to better understand why participants do or do not (structurally) take the step to (sheltered) employment.
The research is made possible by Instituut Gak as part of the Stap voor Stap programma (Step-by-Step programme). The university's research team consists of researchers Sanne Wouters, Thomas Kampen, Melissa Sebrechts and professor Evelien Tonkens.
Instituut Gak aims to contribute to the quality of social security in the Netherlands by financially supporting research, projects and chairs. More information (in Dutch) can be found www.instituutgak.nl.
The University for Humanistic Studies starts 1 March with research into the wishes, needs and opportunities of day care participants trying to make the step from day care to (sheltered) work.