Child welfare, 2008

The Child Welfare Service started 27 850 investigation cases in 2008 which is 11 per cent more than the year before. The increase in number of investigation cases closed was about 9 per cent. Half of those investigations were closed with assistance according to The Child Welfare Act.

More than 80 per cent of those who received assistance got assistance in the form of financial support, visit homes, a place for the child at kindergarten or a personal support contact. About 36 300 children received assistance like this in 2008 which is 3.9 per cent more than the year before.

About 7 900 or 18 per cent of the children and youths who received assistance, were under the protective care of the Child Welfare Service.

A total of 35.9 per 1 000 children under eighteen received assistance in 2008 compared to 34.8 in 2007. There is still more boys than girls receiving assistance from the Child Welfare Service.

Increase in all age groups of children

The number of children and youths who received assistance from the Norwegian Child Welfare Service increased by about 1 550 or 3.6 per cent from 2007 to 2008. The number of recipients increased in almost all age groups of children.

Economic assistance and visit homes at the top

Out of those who were assisted by the Child Welfare Service in 2008, 25 per cent got economic assistance. About 25 per cent received assistance in the form of visiting homes.

33 900 children received help

About 33 900 children and youths received assistance from the Child Welfare Service at the end of 2008. This is an increase of 1200 persons or 3.7 per cent compared with the previous year. The majority of these children, about 27 500, received only assistance, while 6 400 were under protective care. Most of the children under protective care, about 5700, were placed in foster homes. About 550 children stayed in child welfare institutions and about 200 lived in other care facilities outside their home.

Large differences among the counties

At the end of 2008, an average of 28.4 children out of 1 000 below 18 received assistance. The corresponding figure for 2007 was 27.5. Telemark, Troms and Finnmark are the counties with the highest rate of children under the protection of the Child Welfare Service with about 35 clients per 1 000 children. The lowest client rate is held by Akershus. In this county there is only 21 clients per 1 000 children.

Tables:

• Table 1 Children under protection during the year and per 31 December, by type of assistance. Municipality. 2008
• Table 2 Children under protection during the year, per 31 December and new cases of children placed under protection, by type of assistance, region and county. 1987-2008
• Table 3 Children under protection during the year, and per 31 December and new cases of children placed under protection. Figures for sex and age. Absolute figures and per 1 000 children 0-17 years.1997-2008
• Table 4 Children under protection during the year by type of assistance, age and sex . 2008
• Table 5 Children under protection during the year, by age and type of assistance. 2008
• Table 6 Children under protection during the year, by sex and type of assistance. 2008
• Table 7 Children under protection per 31 December, by age and type of assistance. 2008
• Table 8 Children placed outside of their own homes per 31 December, by type of assistance. 2008
• Table 9 Children placed outside of their own homes per 31 December, by type of assistance, assistance and care, and by region and county. 2008
• Table 10 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and reason for intervention. 2008
• Table 11 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and type of assistance. 2002-2008
• Table 12 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and who reported the case. 2008
• Table 13 Investigationcases started and closed, by conclusion and sex, age and county. 1993-2008
• Table 14 Cases investigated at the child welfare service, by the report's contents and who reported the case. 199702008
• Table 15 Investigation cases closed, by duration of procedure and county. 1997-2008
• Table 16 Investigationcases closed, by conclusion and who reported the case. 2008