Just under 50,000 children receive measures from child protection, figures from Statistics Norway show. There has been a decline in recent years, but the figure is still high. In 18 per cent of the cases, the child protection service has taken over responsibility for care. An invasive measure, which should only be used when strictly necessary. A new project aims for the measures to be as minimally intrusive as possible. – For me, it has been absolutely necessary. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them, and get out of my situation, if it hadn’t been for my family partner, says “Ida”. Laila Johannessen says that they help “Ida” with daily chores – in addition to having important conversations with the mother of two. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Got back to school news meets her at home in Øvre Eiker in Buskerud. It is tidy and clean at home at “Ida”, who has two small children. After a break-up, she was left alone with the children, without any network in the municipality. Child protection got involved, and she became part of the pilot project Øvre Eiker and Lillehammer have together with SOS Children’s Villages. The aim of “Familiepartner” is to enable the parents to handle the role themselves, so that no other measures are necessary. – First of all, this practical help has meant that I have managed to get through school, which means that I can get a step further in terms of work and finances. It is absolutely essential to be able to have a good everyday life, and not be worried about the future. Not least with regard to the children, says “Ida”. One of the family partners who works with “Ida” tells about a wide range of work tasks. – It’s about everything from assistance to financial management, help with cleaning and washing, and generally creating structure in a home. And then we have some office meetings, where there is traditional guidance, to strengthen parenting skills, says Laila Johannessen. Family partner Laila Johannessen fastens a car seat. Photo: Anders Haualand / news From powerlessness to allies Children and young people under the age of 18 have the right to care and the right to a safe upbringing. It is primarily the parents’ responsibility. When the parents are unable to take care of this responsibility for shorter or longer periods, the child protection service must help, Bufdir writes in the description of responsibilities. Many families experience child protection as a threat, rather than a help, according to “Ida”. – For me, it was a feeling of powerlessness when I came under the child protection service. Like being on the dock. But then it went from that to feeling that I actually gained some allies, where we stand together and will solve and untangle the issues, she says. For her, it has been about practical help in everyday life and educational talks about the role of parent. “Ida” praises the measure. – It has meant a lot, and it has helped me regain my self-esteem and believe that I am a good mother. Getting “dirty on your hands” So far, around 35 families in Lillehammer and Øvre Eiker have received help from the family partner project. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) wants child protection services across the country to learn from the project. – This is a way of working which, to me, seems to be very good. I would like this to reach more municipalities and become a way in which the child welfare service throughout Norway works. Øvre Eiker mayor Adrian Tollefsen and family minister Kjersti Toppe both have faith in the project. Photo: Anders Haualand / news A so-called family partner works with vulnerable families where there have often been several reports of concern and there is a risk of the children being taken over. In contrast to a regular child welfare adviser, most of the meetings with the family partner take place at the family’s own home. Thomas Kolbjørnsen works as a family partner in Øvre Eiker, and has previous experience from “ordinary” child protection work. He says it’s about not being afraid to get a little “dirty on your hands”. – What is the biggest difference? – Much is the same, but we are much more at home with them, and closer. We work both environmentally therapeutically and engage in family counseling. There are also two of us who work closely with the families. It is also time-limited, where we have a clear goal we are working towards. It’s good, old-fashioned social work. Be outside and feel it on your body, says Kolbjørnsen. Family partner Thomas Kolbjørnsen says they are getting closer to families in the new model. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Needs government funds Project manager in SOS Children’s Villages, Bente Jørgensen, says that the inspiration came from Finland and that they spent some time adapting the project to Norwegian conditions. – We have seen that there are too few comprehensive aid measures in the child protection service, which come in early and which are also researched. So far, we see that it works very well, says Jørgensen. Now she is hoping for government funding, so that the project can be rolled out in even more municipalities. SOS Children’s Villages leads the project, which receives financial support from both the public and private actors. – This project provides a direction for how we can develop our other services as well. I have great faith in the model and that we can use these experiences further, so we can get back to the shape of it, says Øvre Eiker mayor Adrian Tollefsen (H).
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Will test a unique project in child protection in several places in Norway – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
