drawing of children on asphalt

Project: Organizing for trust – coordinated efforts for children's best

This research project aimed to contribute with knowledge-based support within the initiative ”Barnens bästa gäller! i Kronoberg” (BBGiK). This initiative has, as one of its ambitious intentions, the goal to provide a more structured and equivalent support for children and youth in potentially vulnerable life conditions, at an early stage and with coordinated efforts. The research focused on evaluating how these intentions were realized.

This project was concluded in 2022.

Project information

Project manager
Torbjörn Forkby
Other project members
Angelika Thelin, Mats Anderberg and Sofia Enell, Linnaeus University; Tony Andersson, Karin Pernebo and Pamela Massoudi, Region Kronoberg; and Ann-Christine Andersson, Jönköping Academy.
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, Region Kronoberg and the eight municipalities within the region
Financier
The Kamprad Family Foundation
Timetable
1 Sept 2019–31 Aug 2022
Subject
Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Linnaeus University

More about the project

The living conditions among children and youth in Sweden today is generally good. However, there are worrying indications, not least as regards the psychological health and when it comes to those in vulnerable life conditions. An increasing number apply for psychiatric support and treatment, and reports from schools and the social services bear witness of children in need not receiving the right support at the time they would benefit from it the best. Further, support processes could be very complicated as they often include a lot of different services and actors. The family is put in a situation of managing a complex net of actors.

The development work ”Barnens bästa gäller! i Kronoberg” (BBGiK) aims to resolve these issues. The inspiration comes from the Scottish model GIRFEC (Getting it Right for Every Child). Some core ideas provide a basic structure for the implementation of this model. A first contact person will be appointed to every child, a lead professional will coordinate more complicated support processes, and a children’s plan will be prepared to document children’s needs and how these will be met. The on-going evaluation/research will continuously feed data into the development work in order to facilitate the implementation. The aim is to establish a long-term partnership for the development of knowledge-based support for children and youth in vulnerable life conditions. The model's implementation in Kronoberg county will include translations in order to make it fit local contingences.

Staff