Barnevernet, the Norwegian Child Care Service, often arouses interest among Poles living in Norway - unfortunately, it does not necessarily evoke positive feelings. There are many myths surrounding this institution, especially regarding the way it deals with children's issues. In this article we will look at how Barnevernet works, what its role is and what procedures are used in the event of interventions.
What is barnevernet?
Barnevernet is a Norwegian institution responsible for the well-being of children and young people. Its activities are based on the Child Care Act, which aims to provide children and young people with safety, love, understanding and good and safe conditions for development. After the 2018 amendment to the Act, children have the right to state intervention when there are reasonable suspicions of a violation of their rights.
How does barnevernet work?
In the case of child protection, processes can be initiated in two main ways. The first is reporting by social welfare services operating at the commune or district level, and the second is direct contact with people affected by the problem who seek help on their own, or reporting by third parties.
Reports of situations requiring intervention may come from various sources. The most common ones are reports from the police and other services. Many cases are also reported by children themselves, their families, friends, neighbors and public institutions such as schools and health centers. According to the Child Protection Act, everyone has the right to report suspected violations of a child's welfare.
Some professional groups, such as teachers, are obliged to report situations that potentially harm children. After receiving the report, the services begin an investigation to determine the actual situation in the family. The investigation may include home visits, interviews, and consultations with other institutions.
Once the investigation is complete, various scenarios are possible:
- The case is discontinued.
- Decisions are made on voluntary aid measures.
- The case goes to the municipal court for coercive measures to be applied.
- The case is closed for various reasons, e.g. when the report was false.
In most cases, the activities of the Child Protection Agency focus on voluntary family assistance. The goal is to contribute to positive change, both for the child and for the entire family. Families often receive advice, support in the form of recreational activities, and therapeutic assistance.
In situations where more robust SAIs are required, the state may initiate proceedings to implement coercive measures. In cases where these measures do not bring progress, it is possible to initiate a procedure in accordance with further articles of the Child Protection Act - that is, the procedure for removing a child from its parents in order to place it in a foster family.
Children's rights in the process
The rights of the child in the process are regulated by barnevernloven § 6-3. The emphasis is on informing, consulting and taking into account the child's opinions, especially when they are over 12 years old. This means that the child should be heard and his or her opinion about the situation should be reflected in the proceedings.
If a child is over 15 years old, he or she can act as a party in the case and assert his or her rights.
Summation
In 2010, foster families and other centers cared for a total of 6980 children and youth. Despite misunderstandings and myths, the main goal of barnevernet is to provide a safe and healthy development environment for children. Barnevernet's activities are strictly regulated by law, which ensures adequate protection of children's rights and fair trial.
