Social work and Nordic welfare policies for children-present challenges in the light of the past

The aim of this article is to explore welfare policies for children in five Nordic countries -- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden -- & in that context identify what kinds of issues & challenges social work is currently facing. The data reviewed consist of policy documents, law t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of social work 2006-09, Vol.9 (3), p.305-322
Main Authors: Eydal, Gudny Bjork, Satka, Mirja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Area studies
Child Welfare Services
Children
Children's rights
European studies
Family studies
Parenthood
Rights
Scandinavia
Social history
Social policy
Social welfare
Social Work
Welfare Policy
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Summary:The aim of this article is to explore welfare policies for children in five Nordic countries -- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden -- & in that context identify what kinds of issues & challenges social work is currently facing. The data reviewed consist of policy documents, law texts, official reports, statistics, professional texts, & previous research. Policies & laws on children's protection; provisions, including policies on state benefits & care for children; & the autonomous integrity of children in terms of the norms & policies concerning their participation, in particular in public everyday life, are analysed from a historical perspective. Hence, future challenges for social work are analysed in light of the past. Our conclusion is that social workers have a unique opportunity, based on their close encounters with children as clients, to work for the realisation of children's rights. Furthermore, by applying a holistic perspective to issues of childhood & parenthood, social workers can contribute to the development of knowledge on how welfare systems can meet the challenges brought about by the new ideas of children's rights, social changes, globalisation, & the new ideological concepts of risk that have arisen in child welfare. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:1369-1457
DOI:10.1080/13691450600828358