Han Spanjaard

Background

About Han Spanjaard

Han Spanjaard is a psychologist, developer and trainer. He worked in Groningen with school drop-outs and runaways. He researched the backgrounds of these youngsters and developed methods for intervention (1983-1988). At the department Prevention and Innovation of an Institute for Mental Health Care (RIAGG) in Amsterdam, Han developed and implemented prevention-programs (prevention of sexual abuse of children) and treatment-programs (e.g. for sex-offenders)(1988-1993). From 1993 till 1998 Han was psychologist, researcher and developer at the Paedological Institute in Amsterdam. From till 2008 he was head Practical Research of PI Research. PI Research is a research centre for youth care and education. PI Research provides research, development, innovation, training and implementation. From 2008 till 2013 he was head of innovation. Now he leads his own company. Together with colleagues, Han developed and implemented different programs for youth care: Families First (Intervention for families in crisis), the Exit Training (training for youngsters at risk of homelessness), residential treatment of delinquent juveniles (a behavioral competency-based approach), social skill training as an alternative sanction, Training Aggression Control for youngsters, instruments for risk assessment, therapy and residential treatment for young sex-offenders with learning disabilities, and methods for community based and residential youth care. Han conducted different projects abroad: Russia (Moscow: 1995-2008): residential treatment of children; alternative sanctions, and improving social competence and social support for youngsters at risk. Lithuania (2004-2011): children’s rights protection, social skills, child abuse and neglect, positive parenting. Estonia, Bulgary, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia: different subjects. Surinam (from 2011): Child abuse: prevention and intervention. The developmental work and research resulted in a lot of articles, manuals and books.