National child welfare – StatRes (discontinued), 2011

At the end of 2011, approximately 1 200 children lived in children’s institutions and 970 children received assistance while living at home. This is a decrease of 7 and 8 per cent respectively. Nevertheless, the total number of children registered in the National Child Welfare Service still saw a rise of 2 per cent due to a 9 per cent increase in children living in state supported foster homes. In total, there were more than 5 800 children in the National Child Welfare Service at the end of 2011, which means that 4.6 of 1 000 children aged 0-19 were the subject of a national child welfare measure.

Foster homes more dominating

Of the 5 800 children subject to measures from the National Child Welfare Service, close to 63 per cent (3 640 children) were in foster homes, almost 21 per cent (1 200 children) were in institutions and approximately 17 per cent (970 children) received assistance while living at home. This distribution has changed somewhat since 2010, mainly because the share of foster homes has increased from 59 per cent to 63 per cent.

Since the first publication of national child welfare figures in 2004, the foster homes have gradually become more dominating. In 2004, foster homes had a share of 43 per cent of all children in the national child welfare, compared to 63 per cent in 2011.

Decrease of treatment days in the National Child Welfare Service

The total number of treatment days in 2011 was less than 1.1 million. This is a decrease from 2010 of almost 3 per cent. During this time period, treatment days in institutions decreased by less than 9 per cent to a total of more than 441 900. Treatment days in foster homes stayed at approximately the same level, but assistance while living at home increased by more than 7 per cent.

National Child Welfare Service cost NOK 5.8 billion

The total expenditure on the National Child Welfare Service was more than NOK 5.8 billion in 2011. This is an increase of approximately 5 per cent, or NOK 255 million, from 2010. The expenditure to foster homes in particular has increased, with a growth of 12 per cent, or NOK 160 million.

Increase bed-day prices in child welfare institutions

In 2011, the average bed-day price was approximately NOK 5 010; an increase of more than 6 per cent compared to 2010. The most pronounced climb in prices per bed-day was in private children’s institutions, by almost 14 per cent, with a total price of more than NOK 6 730 in 2011. Comparing average bed-day prices in 2004 with 2011, figures show a pronounced 38 per cent climb. In this time period, the figures for foster homes show an increase of 76 per cent and children’s institutions 81 per cent, while assistance while living at home increased only 5 per cent.

Growth in contracted man-years

In 2011, there were 4 600 contracted man-years (excluding long-term leave) in the National Child Welfare Services; an increase of approximately 5 per cent or 230 man-years compared to 2010. The total expenditure on salaries in 2011 was slightly more than NOK 2.9 billion; an increase of approximately 3 per cent since 2010.