Child Protection Services' Treatment Options

Child Protection Services

The treatment chosen depends on the circumstances of each case, but examples include:

• Parents receive guidance on upbringing and living conditions through structured interviews with counsellors.
• A child or family is assigned a caretaker, personal counsellor or support family.
• Parents receive help to seek treatment due to illness, alcohol and/or drug abuse or other problems.
• Pregnant women receive help to seek treatment due to illness, alcohol and/or drug abuse or other problems.
• Aid in obtaining treatment and support within municipal social services.

Treatment Options

The Agency for Children and Families can apply for the following resources from the Agency for Child Protection:

MST Treatment for Children with Behavioural and Addiction Problems

For families of 12–18-year-old children who struggle with serious behavioural problems that cause in police intervention, difficulties in school, violence and drug use. The treatment takes 3-5 months and consists of increasing the parents' skills to deal with their children's problems. The goal is that the child lives at home, goes to school or work, does not run afoul of the law, does not use drugs and does not use violence.

SÓK-treatment

Psychological services for children due to inappropriate sexual behaviour. The goal is to support the child, reduce the negative consequences of the behaviour for the child itself and reduce the likelihood of the behaviour repeating itself. The child's guardians are also provided with professional advice.

Treatment Homes

The National Agency for Children and Families is responsible for the operation of treatment homes for young people who are struggling with serious behavioural and addiction problems.

Stuðla Therapy Department

For 12–18-year-olds who have a variety of problems. At the treatment department, a diagnosis of children's problems is carried out and treatment takes 6-8 weeks.

Bjargey Treatment Center

For 13–18-year-old children who have previously been treated at Stuðlar. The reasons for treatment include conduct disorder, delinquency behaviour, violence and the use of drugs.

Support Homes

For young people who have been treated at Stuðlar but need further support.

Barnahús

Barnahús (The Children's House) deals with the affairs of children who are suspected of having been victims of sexual abuse or violence.

Foster homes

Foster homes are used when the Child Welfare Committee entrusts the foster parents with the care of a child. The reasons why children go into foster care can be the child's difficulties or that it lacks satisfactory upbringing conditions. Foster care arrangements can be temporary foster care, permanent foster care and sponsored foster care. In the vast majority of cases, foster care is taken with the consent and will of the parents, but sometimes it has to be taken without the consent of the parties to the case, in which case the courts will consider the cases.

Social support and services

Social services are provided by municipalities to their residents. They offer support to children and their families.