A future professional committed to children of separated parents
Oranjestad – On Monday, June 24, 2025, Wilyenie Croes, a fourth-year Social Work student at the University of Aruba, successfully presented her graduation thesis at Plan di Mayor. With this presentation, she officially completed her studies and made a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts to support children going through parental separation on the island.
The presentation was attended by key stakeholders in child welfare and separation policy. Present were Ms. Aisca Berkemeyer, Director of the Guardianship Council (Directie Voogdijraad), and Mr. Bert Wielenga, Secretary of the Committee for Continued Parenting. Xavier Simileer, judiciary policy advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Human Rights portofolio. Following the event online was Ms. Sacha Geerman, policy officer at the Department of Social Affairs, member of the Committee and of the Taskforce for Children’s Rights.
Wilyenie completed her internship at Plan di Mayor, where she was coached by Mrs. Michella Steenvoorde-Laclé, coordinator of Plan di Mayor and Chair of the Committee for Continued Parenting. “Wilyenie has proven herself to be a committed, inquisitive, and empathetic young professional during her internship,” said Steenvoorde-Laclé. “Her thesis aligns perfectly with our mission to place children at the center of family law and intervention policy.”
Children whose parents had a Plan di Mayor agreement showed more emotional balance and coherence in their stories:
- They were more capable of reflecting on both parents without needing to pick sides
- They could acknowledge conflict while still feeling emotionally safe
- Their stories were more coherent and structured (according to CAI coding)
Children without an agreement often showed signs of loyalty conflicts, emotional shutdown, or blurred roles such as parentification:
- Some avoided talking about one of their parents entirely
- Others assumed the role of “emotional protector” for a parent
- There was clear evidence of internal conflict: love, confusion, guilt
Emotional availability of the caregiver proved to be more important than the existence of a formal agreement:
- Even without a formal agreement, a consistently emotionally present parent made a significant positive difference
- However, even in structured settings, children suffered when parents were emotionally unavailable, distracted, or unresponsive
Children can sense when something is “just for show.” They respond best when adults treat them as participants — not as problems.
The findings and recommendations of Wilyenie Croes will help further develop interventions for children within the framework of the new Law on Continued Parenthood and Careful Separation (Ley Plan di Mayor). The research emphasizes the importance of both structure and emotional attunement in parenting after separation.
While formal agreements like those encouraged by Plan di Mayor provide an important foundation for cooperation, the real impact on children depends on how these agreements are lived out in practice. Emotional availability, consistency, and respect for the child’s voice must be central in all policies and interventions.
With her diploma in hand, Wilyenie Croes is ready to contribute as a new professional to a more caring and connected society.
Plan di Mayor proudly congratulates Wilyenie on this outstanding achievement.
