Janneke Metselaar

Janneke Metselaar serves as Professor of Youth Care at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences since 2015, where she leads the Youth Care research group. This position strategically bridges practice-based research, academic science, and professional education to directly enhance youth care quality and train future practitioners through evidence-based methodologies.

Her academic foundation was established through Educational Sciences studies at Leiden University, where doctoral research focused on information policy for young people emerged from early inspiration by documentaries on vulnerable children. This trajectory solidified her commitment to youth welfare systems.

Research centers on transformative challenges within Dutch youth care, employing qualitative methodologies to address systemic transitions affecting professionals, families, and young people. Her work prioritizes actionable policy insights through practice-integrated research, emphasizing how field-derived questions translate into educational curricula and service improvements. Current projects focus on navigating sector-wide transformations to strengthen care coordination.

No scientific awards or honors were documented in the source material.

As research group leader, she secures external funding, develops field-driven research proposals, and cultivates international partnerships while mentoring emerging researchers through embedded educational programs. Her organizational role involves translating practitioner challenges into research agendas that directly inform policy development and service delivery frameworks.

The Youth Care research group operates as an interdisciplinary hub connecting academic rigor with frontline practice, generating practical solutions for systemic youth care challenges. This team actively contributes foundational insights during Netherlands' critical youth care restructuring phase, focusing on creating implementable knowledge that shapes effective policy and practice integration.