How can Child Welfare Services help?

Some in-home services may be directed specifically at the child, while others are designed to support the parents. Often, a combination of services is needed to provide the best possible support to both the child and the family.

The types of services offered may also vary between municipalities.

• Guidance and counselling from the Child Welfare Services: Child Welfare Services can offer advice and support to both children and parents. This may be provided as an alternative to, or in addition to, other forms of assistance. Guidance and counselling do not necessarily have to be delivered by the Child Welfare Services itself, but can also be provided by other professional services.
• Support contacts and respite families: These services are often used in families with limited social networks, or where children would benefit from new experiences and additional role models.
• Home supervision: This involves regular home visits, either announced or unannounced, by a designated professional.
• Group-based parenting guidance (ICDP): The aim of the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) is to prevent psychosocial problems in children and young people. This is done by supporting and strengthening parents and caregivers in their caregiving role, particularly those facing greater challenges than others.
• Kindergarten and after-school programmes (SFO/AKS): Kindergartens and after-school services may be used as support measures for various reasons. For example, to help improve a child’s interaction with adults and peers, or to establish a more structured daily routine.
• Support for children and young people with behavioural difficulties: Several methods and interventions are available to support children and families in preventing or reducing behavioural issues.

In some cases, a parent–child centre (link to page in Norwegian) may assist with delivering services and following up with the family.

Contact your local Child Welfare Service for more information about available in-home services.

As a general rule, the child welfare service can only implement in-home services if the family agrees to receive them.

In certain cases, support measures may be imposed by law. This requires a formal decision by the Child Welfare Tribunal (Barneverns- og helsenemnda). In such cases, the parents are entitled to legal representation and have the right to attend the hearing to present their views.

The Child Welfare Services must always make a formal decision when implementing a support measure.

If you have requested a specific service, the Child Welfare Service is required to provide a written decision stating whether the request has been granted or not. This applies regardless of whether you applied for a service in writing or verbally.

When the Child Welfare Services implements support measures, they must prepare a support plan for the child in collaboration with the family.

The Child Welfare Services is responsible for closely monitoring the well-being of the child and its parents, and for assessing whether the measures are having a positive effect for the child.

If you are dissatisfied with the decision regarding the support measure, you can submit an appeal to the Child Welfare Services. The deadline for appealing is three weeks from the date you received the decision. If your appeal is not upheld, the case will be forwarded to the County Governor, who will decide whether the appeal should be granted.

You may consider appealing if:

• You do not receive the help you have requested
• You would prefer a different type of support
• You believe you need more of the support already provided

In your appeal, you must explain what you are dissatisfied with and why you believe the decision should be changed. If you need guidance, you can contact the Child Welfare Services for assistance.