– I haven’t found out who I am and what I stand for, says “Siri”. She says that she was 16 years old when child protection took over care of her. In two years, she moved five times, from emergency shelters and to various institutions. Siri believes that this has made her unable to trust people. – There is not an inch of safety in my body. news has previously told the story of Patrik, who moved 14 times before he turned 18. Every time a child is moved, they have to adapt to new surroundings and build up trust in new carers. And it costs, according to the professionals. A sense of loss – I don’t think people know how much some of these children actually move, says Hege Stein Helland. She works at the University of Bergen as a researcher in political science and specializes in child protection. Researcher Hege Stein Helland is concerned that children in childcare are moved around a lot. According to Helland, the moves mean that the children have to change carers, but also in many cases have to change schools and leave friends, and sometimes also leave siblings. – This is a major upheaval. Children and young people can get a sense of loss, that they don’t belong, says Helland. Siri has known a lot about grief and despair. She has not finished her schooling. – Gradually, I began to think that it was me that something was wrong with. Lifelong consequences According to Helland, children can feel rejected and unwanted. Many of the children have already been exposed to neglect and broken relationships. Then the need for security will be extra strong. – Instability and lack of belonging can lead to children having lifelong challenges with relationships with others and handling emotions and stress, says Helland. She emphasizes that there can be many reasons why children are moved. And if they are well planned, the negative effects can be less. – But in general, moving is something you should definitely avoid. It is clearly a burden for many children, she says. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe says she understands the insecurity Siri experiences. Toppe has met several girls who have told about similar experiences, and it has made an impression on her. – That is why I want to regulate relocations better than today. We will create a new way of running child protection, where children will receive help close to where they live, and avoid all relocation of children that is not in the child’s best interests, says Kjersti Toppe, referring to the committee that will assess changes in institutional childcare. Uncertain future Siri, who is 25 today, does not know what future she has. – I can’t do it alone. I depend on assistance and support from those around me all the time. I’m quite sure that comes from all the moving, she says. She is no longer under the care of child protection, but still has major problems with trust. – No one approaches me. My boyfriend used to say that he was lucky to make it.
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Siri (25) moved from an emergency shelter and to various institutions – news Trøndelag
