Needs to help for us - knowledge from children about family counseling
The report on family counseling is NOW launched!
Family counseling is the most commonly used intervention in the Child Protection System, and is also a common intervention in municipal mental health services and in BUP. Now 101 children and young people around Norway, aged 8-18, have explained what family counseling can feel like and given advice to Norway on how it should be done to make it safe and useful for children.
Some of the advice from the kids:
- All children must be told that they are thinking of giving guidance to the family
- Each child must be allowed to say what they think about guidance being given and provide input if guidance is to be given. The child must be allowed to speak to a person who feels safe for the child and it must be agreed with the child how what the child has said can be shared further.
- Family counselors need to check with the children regularly, if the help helps. If it does not help or if it gets worse for the child, the help must be stopped.
The report provides concrete advice on how the Child Protection System and mental health services should proceed and makes specific suggestions on what changes need to be made to ensure that family counseling is in line with children's human rights. Today, this is not always the case
Figures from the survey, where the sample was 101 children
- 53% of the children have not been told that they have had family guidance
- 78% of the children have not been asked what they needed to get better at home
- 69% of children have not been asked if it has worked
We hope that Norway will listen to and absorb this knowledge in the further development of family counseling services
Read the report and listen to the podcast with advice here
On April 5, the report was released:
- FOR AUTHORITIES AND organisations, with State Secretary Ellen from HOD, political advisor Per Ivar, parliamentary politicians in the Family Committee Margrethe (SP) Ragnhild (AP) and Tage (H) see pictures below, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Care Services (Norway), the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs (Norway), the Ombudsman for Children, KS Municipal Sector Organization, Fellesorganisasjonen, RBUP, Adults for Children and NUBU.
- FOR PROFESSIONALS digitally, with more than 400 registered around the country
Ellen Rønning-Arnesen, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Care Services
Margrethe Haarr, Ragnhild Hartviksen and Tage Pettersen Representatives of the Storting from the Family and Culture Committee
Per Ivar Lied, Adviser to the Minister for Children Kjersti Toppe in the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs