The Youth Care Academy

What The Youth Care Academy does

The Youth Care Academy (legal entity: De Jeugdzorgacademie) is a privately held Dutch professional training provider founded in 2012 by post-master psychologist Nina Draaisma and her husband. The firm specializes in accredited continuing education for behavioral scientists working in the Dutch youth care sector, with particular depth in trauma, attachment, and action-oriented diagnostics. It sells an 84-course catalog organized across six categories — Attachment and Trauma (including the founder-developed NIKA protocol), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Handelingsgerichte Diagnostiek (HGD, a co-founder-authored method), Coaching & Supervision, and AI/Youth Law/Professional Ethics — delivered in blended, e-learning, multi-day intensive, and customized incompany formats at training locations in Utrecht and Haarlem and at client sites across the Netherlands.

Revenue is generated through three streams: individual open-enrollment course fees (one-time per course, bundled with a one-year e-learning license), incompany training priced on a quote-based per-participant basis for organizations, and e-learning access for self-paced digital modules. Distribution runs through a direct website registration portal, incompany quote workflow, LinkedIn organic presence, email newsletter, and SEO-optimized course pages, with 323+ customer reviews cited as social proof. The institution is CRKBO-registered and holds accreditations from the five major Dutch behavioral science credentialing bodies (NIP, NVO, SKJ, VGCT, NVRG), making its courses pre-approved toward the continuing-education hours required by Dutch psychologists, orthopedagogues, youth workers, cognitive behavioral therapists, and systemic family therapists. The firm is founder-controlled with no external investors, acquisitions, or parent company identified, and operates without a public revenue or headcount disclosure.

Name

The Youth Care Academy

Legal name

De Jeugdzorgacademie

Website

https://dejeugdzorgacademie.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Youth Care Academy (De Jeugdzorgacademie) is a privately held Dutch training provider founded in 2012 that delivers accredited continuing education courses in trauma, attachment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and systemic therapy to behavioral scientists working in the Netherlands youth care sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Continuing Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Development, Behavior Guidance & Trauma-Informed Practice Training (EDACAIAG), Inclusion, Special Needs & Early Intervention Training (IEPs/IFSPs, Neurodiversity) (EDACAIAF), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Youth care training
• Continuing professional education
• Trauma-informed care
• Attachment therapy
• Behavioral science courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Open Enrollment Course Fees: Professionals register and pay individually for courses offered in the public catalog. Course fees vary by program length and format. Includes access to course materials for 1 year.
2. Incompany Training: Customized training delivered at client organizations. Quote-based pricing per participant, with lower per-cursist cost for larger groups. Addresses specific organizational challenges and goals.
3. E-learning Access: Self-paced online course modules included with course enrollment, providing 1 year access to digital course materials and online learning components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Youth Care Academy (De Jeugdzorgacademie) provides accredited professional training and continuing education courses for behavioral scientists, psychologists, orthopedagogues, and child protection workers in the Dutch youth care sector. The portfolio spans 84+ courses across attachment and trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy, systemic therapy, action-oriented diagnostics, coaching/supervision, and youth law/ethics, delivered through blended e-learning plus in-person formats, multi-day intensives, and customized incompany training. The company also develops and licenses proprietary methodologies, notably the NIKA attachment diagnostic/intervention protocol and the Handelingsgerichte Diagnostiek (HGD) decision-making model.

Product overview

The Youth Care Academy (De Jeugdzorgacademie) is a professional training and education provider for youth care professionals in the Netherlands. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of accredited courses, programs, and e-learning modules organized into six main categories: (1) Attachment and Trauma training including NIKA protocols; (2) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CGT) for youth; (3) Systemic Therapy and narrative approaches; (4) Action-Oriented Diagnostics (HGD); (5) Coaching and Supervision; and (6) AI, Youth Law and Professional Ethics. Programs range from basic courses to advanced practitioner certifications, with options for both HBO (applied sciences) and WO (university) level professionals. The academy provides e-learning versions of many courses and offers customized incompany training for organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Attachment and Trauma Training (Gehechtheid en Trauma) Comprehensive training programs covering attachment theory, trauma-informed care, trauma-sensitive language, secondary trauma, professional resilience, and specialized NIKA protocols for attachment and trauma intervention. Targeted at Dutch youth care professionals including psychologists, orthopedagogues, behavioral scientists, and child protection workers.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Courses (CGT) Courses in cognitive behavioral therapy for children and youth, including basic CGT courses and certification as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Practitioner (CGw). Targeted at youth care professionals seeking VGCT-accredited CBT training.
• Systemic Therapy Training (Systeemtherapie) Systemic therapy training including basic courses, specialization in narrative therapy, reflective systemic therapy, and modular training to become a systemic therapist (TTC 132 hours). Targeted at family therapists and behavioral scientists.
• Action-Oriented Diagnostics Training (Handelingsgerichte Diagnostiek / HGD) Action-oriented diagnostic training including family diagnostics, intercultural diagnostics, HGD for intellectually disabled care, and diagnostic inspiration/refresher sessions. Targeted at behavioral scientists, supervisors, and diagnostic practitioners in Dutch youth care.
• Coaching and Supervision Training Courses for behavioral scientists covering coaching, consultation, work supervision, solution-focused coaching, and supervisor training programs. Targeted at behavioral scientists stepping into supervisory or coaching roles.
• AI, Youth Law and Professional Ethics Courses
• NIKA Training Programs Specialized NIKA attachment diagnostic and intervention programs including screening, parent guidance, practitioner certification, NIKA Baby, and competence-based supervision tracks for HBO and WO level professionals. Targeted at HBO and WO-level professionals seeking proprietary NIKA certification.
• E-Learning Courses Online self-paced e-learning versions of courses including trauma-informed language, professional educational relationships, action-oriented analysis, AI in youth care, and AVG compliance training. Targeted at individual professionals needing flexible, location-independent accredited study.
• Incompany Training Organization-specific training programs delivered at client locations, customized to address specific challenges, implement new legislation, or improve team skills. Targeted at youth care organizations, municipal district teams, child safety organizations (Veilig Thuis), and youth protection agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 323+ customer reviews with predominantly 5-star ratings demonstrating high satisfaction

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NIP (Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accreditation partnership for psychology continuing education courses. NIP accredits courses for psychologist registration requirements.
• NVO (Nederlandse Vereniging van Opvoedkundigen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accreditation partnership for orthopedagogue continuing education. NVO accredits courses for professional registration.
• SKJ (Stichting Kwaliteitsregister Jeugd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accreditation partnership for youth professionals. SKJ accredits courses for youth worker registration.
• VGCT (Vereniging voor Cognitieve Gedragstherapie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accreditation for cognitive behavioral therapy courses. VGCT accredits CGT training programs.
• NVRG (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional accreditation for systemic therapy courses. NVRG recognizes training for family therapists.
• CRKBO (Centraal Register Kort Beroepsonderwijs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality registry for professional education institutions. CRKBO registration confirms institutional quality standards for professional education.
• RINO GroepminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPost-academic training provider. Instructor Erik Jongman teaches at RINO Groep; educational collaboration for psychology training programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trimbos-instituut: Dutch national knowledge center for mental health. Overlaps as a broader training and education provider for mental health and youth care professionals in the Netherlands, though it operates more broadly across mental health policy and research rather than focusing narrowly on youth care.
• BPS (British Psychological Society) Training: UK chartered professional body for psychologists with significant continuing education offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering accredited CPD for psychologists, though at a much larger scale and not focused on the Dutch youth care niche.

Direct peers

• Spring Instituut: Dutch training provider offering courses and master programs for healthcare and behavioral professionals. Comparable as a direct competitor in accredited Dutch post-academic education for the same practitioner segments.
• RINO Groep: Largest Dutch post-academic training provider for behavioral scientists and psychologists. Directly comparable as an accredited continuing education competitor serving the same Dutch youth care and mental health professional audience with overlapping accreditation bodies (NIP, NVO, SKJ).
• ISKA: Dutch institute providing post-master training for psychologists and psychotherapists. Directly comparable as a Dutch accredited continuing education provider in the same therapeutic disciplines (systemic therapy, CBT) as De Jeugdzorgacademie.
• Nederlands Psychoanalytisch Instituut (NPI): Dutch post-academic training institute for psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy. Comparable as a Dutch accredited provider serving the same behavioral scientist audience with overlapping therapeutic method courses.

Emerging players

• GGZ Ecademy: Dutch e-learning platform for mental health and youth care professionals. Comparable as an emerging digital-first accredited training provider targeting the same practitioner audience with similar blended and online course formats.
• Academie voor Counselling en Coaching: Dutch academy offering certified training for behavioral professionals in coaching, counseling, and supervision. Overlaps with De Jeugdzorgacademie's coaching & supervisor category for the same behavioral scientist target audience.
• ACAMH (Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health): UK-based professional body providing training and CPD for child and adolescent mental health professionals. Thematically comparable as a training provider for child and youth mental health practitioners, though serving a different geography and operating as a membership body.

Regional players

• EUREKA Training: European training provider for healthcare and behavioral professionals. Comparable thematically as a continuing education provider in therapeutic methods, though primarily serving broader European markets rather than the Dutch youth care niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jeugdzorg-academie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Youth Care Academy