Many people may have strong feelings about child welfare, such as fear, frustration and helplessness. That is why it is important to start with this:

Child welfare is a public service responsible for ensuring that children are safe and well. Child welfare exists to support children and families in difficult times, not to punish parents.

What is the task of child welfare?

The most important task of child welfare is to:
• ensure that children receive care, safety and protection
• intervene if a child is not safe
• provide help early, before problems get bigger

Child welfare must always consider what is best for the child, while cooperating with parents as much as possible.

When can child welfare become involved?

Child welfare can become involved when:
• someone is worried about a child’s wellbeing
• parents themselves ask for help
• school, kindergarten or other adults report concerns

Having contact with child welfare does not automatically mean that something serious has happened. In many cases it is about support, guidance and help for a period.

What does child welfare do in practice?

When child welfare receives a concern, they first assess whether there is a need to look more closely at the child’s situation.

If they start an investigation, it means they will:
• talk with the child
• talk with the parents
• understand the child’s everyday life and the situation around the child
• obtain information from agencies that know the family and child, such as school, kindergarten, AKS/SFO, NAV

Child welfare should only investigate what is necessary, and must explain what is happening along the way.

After the investigation, child welfare can:
• close the case
• offer help measures in cooperation with the family
• or, in serious situations,  consider more intrusive measures such as placement outside the home, expert assessment or compulsory help measures

Child welfare and parents

Parents are the child’s most important caregivers. Therefore child welfare must:
• inform the parents
• listen to the parents’ explanations
• cooperate with the family as much as possible

Parents have rights, can ask questions, and can appeal if they disagree with decisions.

Child welfare and the child

Children are not just part of their parents’ case – children have their own rights. Children have the right to:
• be heard
• receive an explanation of what is happening
• feel safe in meetings with child welfare

Children should never be responsible for the decisions that are made. It is always the adults who are responsible.

In conclusion

Child welfare works for children to be well and to remain living at home with their parents. By helping the whole family and parents, we also help the children. Therefore the goal is for families to receive help as early as possible.

For more information, visit: bufdir.no/barnevern · barneombudet.no · statsforvalteren.no

A concern report means that someone informs child welfare because they are worried about how a child is doing: at home, at school, or in life generally. Sometimes parents themselves make contact to get help. Others can also report: school, kindergarten, school nurse, family, neighbours, or anyone who wants to make sure the child is doing well. Child welfare is first and foremost a helper for children and parents.

When child welfare receives a concern report, they have a duty to assess it. First they make an assessment: Do we need to investigate the child’s situation further?

Here it is important to know two things:
1. The threshold for investigating should be low. This does not mean someone is «convicted» or that child welfare has decided. It means child welfare wants to be sure before drawing conclusions.
2. Child welfare should normally decide fairly quickly whether to proceed with investigation or close the case. Normally this should be decided within one week.

If child welfare assesses that there may be a need for help, they open an investigation. An investigation is about gathering enough information to find out how the child is doing and what might help. Child welfare should only investigate what is necessary, nothing more. The investigation should happen as quickly as possible, and as a rule be concluded within three months.

Finally, child welfare can conclude in different ways:
• They can close the case if they find no grounds for concern.
• They can suggest help measures at home.
• Or (in more serious situations) assess that the child cannot live at home, and then the case must go to the Child Welfare and Health Board.

Remember: A concern report does not automatically mean «something is wrong». It means child welfare must assess, investigate if needed, and find what is best for the child.

First: Neglect is a serious word, and it can feel frightening. But the aim of talking about it is to make things clear and safe: What do children need to be well, and what do adults do if they are worried?

Care does not mean being a «perfect» parent. Care means that the child gets what is needed to be safe, looked after and able to develop.

Child welfare often assesses several areas:
1) Basic needs Children need food, clothing, sleep, health care, and a home that is safe enough. If a child frequently lacks these over time, it can be a sign of insufficient care.

2) Safety and protection Children should not live with violence, threats, serious conflicts, or insecurity that makes them afraid. If adults cannot protect the child from dangerous situations, it can be neglect.

3) Emotional care Children need adults who see them, comfort them, set limits with respect, and help them understand feelings. If a child is often rejected, humiliated, ignored or becomes «the adult» in the family, it can be harmful.

4) Stability and predictability Children need routines and adults who follow up on school, health and everyday life. When there is much chaos over time – for example substance use, serious mental illness without help, or the child having to manage on their own – it can cause a concern.

Child welfare tries to find out: How is this for the child in everyday life? In investigations they will talk with the child and parents, and only investigate what is necessary.

And to you who is a minor: If you feel worried, you can say so. You have the right to be heard, and adults must explain to you what is happening and why.

When child welfare starts an investigation, they contact both the parents and the child. Parents must be told what is in the concern report, and the family is given the opportunity to say how they experience the situation.

What is the first conversation about?
It is about getting an overview:

• How is everyday life at home?

• How is the child doing at school, at home and with friends?

• Is there stress, illness, finances, conflicts or other things affecting the family?

• What are the family’s strengths and what is already working well? Child welfare can also make a home visit to get a better impression of the family situation.

Who can child welfare speak with?
In many cases child welfare must speak with others who know the family, such as school or kindergarten. At the same time, child welfare should (as far as possible) obtain information in cooperation with the family, or in a way the family knows about.

Parents’ rights in the conversation You have the right to:

• receive information about what the case concerns

• explain your experience and give your perspective

• ask questions and request that things are explained clearly •

bring a support person to meetings, if that helps (for example a friend, interpreter or other support)

Important exception: when the child’s safety is at risk
Sometimes child welfare is concerned that the child is not safe if parents receive all information at once, or if the child does not dare to speak freely. Then child welfare may choose to speak with the child alone and/or the parents alone. This is not about «taking» anyone. It is about protecting the child and ensuring the child can speak safely. Children have the right to be heard and to have what is happening explained in a way they understand.

In conclusion: Child welfare shall write a summary/report and conclude: either close the case, suggest help measures, or consider more intrusive measures if there is serious concern.

Help measures mean support and steps that make everyday life safer and easier for the child and family, often while the child still lives at home. Child welfare can suggest help measures as a result of the investigation.

Examples can include:

• parental guidance and conversations

• support in cooperation with school/kindergarten

• help with routines, structure and setting limits

• respite or support contact

• measures that strengthen the child’s leisure and network

• family councils and network meetings Which measures are used varies, and should be adapted to the family.

What does «voluntary help measures» mean?
It means the measures are carried out in cooperation with the family and that parents consent. The goal is to create improvement without more intrusive measures.

But what if child welfare is seriously concerned and cooperation is not working?
In some situations child welfare can consider more intrusive measures. It is important to know that child welfare does not «decide» this alone. In serious cases the matter must normally be referred to the Child Welfare and Health Board, which is a court-like body. The Board decides whether the child should move out of the home in serious cases.

In processes that can end with compulsion, documentation, justifications and rights are especially important, and the child’s best interests must be at the centre.

The most important thing first: Placement outside the home is usually only considered when child welfare believes the child’s situation is so serious that help measures at home are not enough. In such cases the matter is presented to the Child Welfare and Health Board, which decides whether the child should move to a foster home or institution.

What does child welfare assess before this?
• What are the child’s needs right now: safety, care, peace?

• Can the family receive help that allows the child to live safely at home?

• What measures have been tried, and what has worked?

• How does the child experience the situation? (Children must be spoken with and heard.)

The process (simply explained):
• Child welfare investigates and documents the concern.

• They assess alternatives and what is best for the child.

• If they believe placement is necessary, the matter must normally go to the Child Welfare and Health Board.

• There, parents and the child are given the opportunity to express their views, and the Board makes the decision.

To you who are a child: If adults decide you must live somewhere else, they must explain why, what will happen next, and listen to your view. You have rights, and you can also complain or ask for help to complain.

Children’s rights Children are holders of their own rights. This means children are not just part of their parents’ case: they have their own rights.

Children have the right to:
• be heard in matters that concern them

• express their view in a way suited to their age and maturity

• be told what is happening and why

• receive information in a language they understand

• feel safe in conversations with child welfare

Being heard does not mean the child decides. It means the child’s experience and view must be taken seriously when adults make decisions. Children should never be responsible for decisions made. It is always the adults who are responsible.

Children aged 15 or older are regarded as a party in their own child welfare case.

This means they can, among other things:
• access documents

• express their view directly in the case

• appeal decisions that concern them

Children under 15 are not a party, but still have the right to be heard and explained throughout the process.

Right to speak and complain
Children and minors have the right to say if something feels wrong, unsafe or unfair. They can ask for help, ask questions and complain: whether they live at home, in a foster home or at an institution. The same applies to parents.

Parents’ rights
As a parent you have the right to:
• receive information about the case and what child welfare is concerned about

• express yourself and explain how you experience the situation

• receive clear and understandable explanations

• be treated with respect

• bring a support person to meetings

• appeal decisions you disagree with

When child welfare makes decisions affecting rights or duties, these decisions must be justified, and you must be informed about how to appeal and what deadlines apply.

In conclusion
Rights are not about conflict. They are about safety, dignity and fairness, for both children and parents. The goal is for everyone to understand what is happening, be able to express their view, and be met in a respectful way throughout the process.

1) Ask for clarity early Ask: What exactly are you concerned about? What do you need to find out? What is the plan going forward? When things become concrete, it often becomes less frightening.

2) Tell us about both strengths and challenges Child welfare needs a true picture of everyday life. Tell us what works, and what is difficult. Many families need help at periods – that is exactly why child welfare exists as support.

3) Write down what you agree on After meetings: write briefly what you understood, and if possible send a summary. This can prevent misunderstandings.

4) Bring support If you become worried in meetings, bring someone who can help you remember information and ask questions.

5) Help the child feel safe Explain to the child: «Adults are finding out what can help us.» Children have the right to be heard and receive explanations.

6) If you disagree, use your rights You can complain. The County Governor reminds us of the right to complain and monitors that child welfare follows laws and regulations.

In conclusion: Cooperation does not mean agreeing with everything. Cooperation means keeping focus on: What does the child need,  and what can we do now so the child is safe and well?

Aftercare is support for young people and young adults who have received help from child welfare and are in the process of taking the next step in life. The goal of aftercare is simple: No one should stand alone when moving from youth to adulthood.

Who can receive aftercare?
Aftercare can be given to young people and young adults who have previously had measures from child welfare.
These may be young people who:

• have lived in a foster home

• have lived in an institution

• or have had other child welfare measures Aftercare is not about control.

It is about support in a phase of life where much is new, demanding and vulnerable.

What can aftercare be?
Aftercare is adapted to the individual. There is no one solution that fits everyone.
Aftercare can for example be about:
• support in the transition to one’s own home

• help with school, education or work

• financial guidance

• help with structure, routines and managing everyday life

• someone to talk with when life is difficult

• support in relationships and networks For some, aftercare means close follow-up. For others, it is the security of knowing there is someone to call.

Participation and choice Aftercare shall happen in cooperation with the young person. This means:
• the young person has the right to say what they need

• measures should be adapted to their life and goals

• support can be adjusted along the way Receiving aftercare does not mean being weak. It means accepting support in an important transition.

For you who are a parent or caregiver
The transition to adult life can be demanding, both for the young person and the family. Aftercare can contribute to safer frameworks, more predictability and less pressure: also for parents. The goal is for the young person to stand more steadily, take more responsibility at their own pace, and build a good adult life.

In conclusion
The transition to adult life does not happen overnight. Everyone needs more or less support in this phase.

Aftercare is about:
• continuity

• safety

• the opportunity to succeed