Child welfare, 2006

Most of the children, about 33,200, only received assistance while living at home, such as visit homes, kindergartens and people selected to support the child. About 7,250 children and youths were under the protective care of the Child Welfare Service during 2006, and 83 per cent of these children were placed in foster homes. The others were placed in institutions or in other care. There is still more boys than girls receiving assistance from the Child Welfare Service; 34.6 compared to 31.1 per 1,000 children below 18 years of age. For both sexes, a total of 32.9 per 1,000 children aged 0-17 received assistance.

Largest increase among youths aged 13-17

The number of recipients increased in all age groups of children, but the largest increase took place among youths aged 13-17. The group of teenagers aged 13-17 rose by about 600 to a total of 13,500, an increase of 4.9 per cent. The youths aged 18-22 increased by about 160 to a total of 4,300; an increase of 4.0 per cent.

Other assistance at the top

Among different types of assistance, Other assistance is at the top of the list. This type of assistance consists of many different things, for example, giving advice to the family , participating in an organised group , helping children with lessons , and others. About 20,500 children, or 51 per cent of all children receiving assistance in 2006, got other assistance , which is about 2,000 more than in the previous year; an increase of 10.5 per cent. About 14,000 children received economic assistance , which is 35 per cent of all recipients. Visit homes / relief support , foster homes , kindergartens , persons selected to support the child , and supervision , are also often used.

Placing outside home as assistance

The Act relating to child welfare services from 1993 allows children to be placed outside the home without any decision being made by the county committee for social cases to assume protective care. Therefore, there are more children placed outside the home than there are under protective care. On turning 18, the children are no longer under protective care by definition. They then receive assistance in the home, even though a lot of these youths are still placed in foster homes. The number of children placed in foster homes as a type of assistance, has increased each year, from about 300 in 1993 to about 1,950 at the end of 2006. The number of children living in children's homes, as a type of assistance, has also increased in recent years from about 150 in 1993 to about 800 at the end of 2006.

30,800 children received help at the end of the year

About 30,800 children and youths received assistance from the Child Welfare Service at the end of 2006. This is about 900 more than in the previous year; an increase of 3.1 per cent. The majority, about 24,700 children, received assistance in the home. This is about 800 more than at the end of 2005; an increase of 3.4 per cent. At the end of 2006, about 6,100 children were under protective care. Most of these children, about 5,300, were placed in foster homes. Almost 600 children stayed in orphanages and about 200 lived in other care outside their home. At the end of 2006, there were about 100 more children under protective care compared with the end of 2005; an increase of 1.8 per cent. From 2004 to 2005, the increase was 3.1 per cent.

Large differences among the counties

At the end of 2006, an average of 25.9 children out of 1,000 below age 18 received assistance compared with 25.2 the previous year. The highest rate of children under the protection of the Child Welfare Service live in Møre og Romsdal county and Telemark county with 31 and 30 clients per 1,000 children. The lowest client rate is held by Akershus county with 19.

Tables:

• Table 1 Children under protection 31 December, by type of assistance and county. 1987-2006
• Table 2 Children under protection 31 December, by age and type of assistance. 2006
• Table 3 Children under protection during the year and at the end of the year under protection, by type of assistance. 2006. Municipalities
• Table 4 Children under protection during the year, at the end of the year and new cases of children placed under protection, by type of assistance and county. 1987-2006
• Table 5 Children under protection during the year, by age and type of assistance. 2006
• Table 6 Children under protection during the year, at the end of the year and new cases of children placed under protection. Figures for sex and age. Absolute figures and per 1 000 children 0-17 years.1997-2006
• Table 7 Children under protection during the year, by type of care and county. 1987-2006
• Table 8 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and reason for intervention. 2006
• Table 9 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and type of assistance. 2002-2006
• Table 10 New cases of children placed under protection, by age and who reported the case. 2006