Child welfare service investigations, 2000

In relation to the population, 17 investigations were commenced per 1 000 children aged 0-17 years in 2000, against 16 in 1999. Investigations were initiated more frequently vis-à-vis boys than girls. For the age group 14-17, the largest group, 22 investigations were commenced per 1 000 children in 2000. A total of 17 300 investigations were concluded in 2000. Of these 54 per cent resulted in intervention.

Big differences among counties

There are large differences among the counties with respect to how many investigations were commenced and the percentage that led to placing the child under protection. Finnmark, Telemark and Nordland top the list with 22 investigations per 1 000 children under the age of 18, closely followed by Vestfold with 21 and Buskerud and Troms, which both had 20. At the bottom of the list is Oppland, with 11, Akershus with 12 and Sør-Trøndelag with 14 investigations per 1 000 children under 18.

Intervention in one out of two cases

Of all investigations, just over half, 54 per cent, led to intervention pursuant to the Child Welfare Service Act. Forty-four per cent were shelved without intervention. The conclusions of 2 per cent of the investigations are unknown. In top-ranking Møre og Romsdal, nearly two out of three investigations (64 per cent) led to placing the child under protection. Sogn og Fjordane and Nord-Trøndelag also ranked near the top with respect to intervening following an investigation, at 63 and 62 per cent respectively. In Rogaland, 60 per cent of the investigations resulted in action being taken by the child welfare service, and in Oslo and Oppland the figure was 59 per cent. Five out of six of these counties, with the exception of Oslo, all rank high with respect to the number of investigations in relation to the number of children.

On the other hand, in Østfold, Finnmark, Vestfold, Vest-Agder and Hedmark, less than half of the investigations led to intervention. Østfold ranked last, at 43 per cent. Four of these counties, the exception being Hedmark, are all above the national average with respect to the number of concluded investigations in relation to the number of children aged 0-17.

Parents seek help in one out of four cases

The peers or social network of the child was ticked as the reason for filing a report in 35 per cent of the investigations commenced in 2000. The mother or father was by far the largest group in this category, accounting for 25 per cent of reports to the child welfare service in 2000. Neighbours, for example, accounted for 3 per cent of the reports leading to an investigation. Of the public bodies, school (11 per cent) and the child welfare service (11 per cent) were behind most reports of children in need of help. The police and emergency child protection centres accounted for 8 per cent each, while health stations and kindergartens were ticked as the reporting body in 5 and 2 per cent respectively of the investigations.

The statistics contain only data on who made the report about incidents leading to the investigations commenced in 2000. In other words, the population is not all reports to the child welfare service, but rather the reports in which the service found it necessary to initiate an investigation. Several persons or institutions may be behind one report.

Content of reports

In one in five cases (19 per cent) neglect/abuse was ticked as the reason for the report leading to an investigation, and similarly 20 per cent were triggered by the childs behavioural problems. Conditions in the home and special needs were ticked as the reason in just over half of the cases (52 per cent) while “other” was ticked in one in five cases (22 per cent).

Processing time takes more than half a year in 4 per cent of cases

Under the Child Welfare Services Act, the child welfare service is required to undertake all investigations without delay within three months. In special cases the deadline can be extended to six months.

Of the 17 300 investigations concluded in 2000, seven out of 10 (70 per cent) were concluded within the three-month deadline. A further fifth (20 per cent) of the investigations were conducted and concluded within six months, and for four per cent the recorded processing time was more than half a year. Information is lacking for just under one per cent of the investigations. Average processing time in 2000 was 74 days, against 69 and 71 days in 1999 and 1998.

Tables:

• Table 1 Investigation cases started and closed, by conclusion and sex, age and county. 1993-2000
• Table 2 Cases investigated at the child welfare service, by the report's contents and who reported the case. 2000
• Table 3 Investigation cases closed, by duration of procedure and county. 2000