Barnahus Linköping Working together in Child Abuse cases.

Her Majesty the Queen inaugurated Barnahus in September 2005 Her Majesty the Queen inaugurated Barnahus in September 2005. Barnahus was then financed by World Childhood Foundation. Today Barnahus is financed by the counties and the medicin health care.

Barnahus-team

Barnahus Linköping Barnahus team 9 social services, around 90 social workers 260.000 inhabitants, 4 prosecutors 2 police districts around 10 police officers Child and adolescent medical hospital Child and adolescent psychiatry Forensic medicine Women´s Hospital

Barnahus includes… - Child Appropriate/Child Friendly Facility - Multidisciplinary Team - Coordination of Resources - Forensic Interviews - Medical Evaluation - Crisis- and Therapeutic Intervention - Competence development - Trauma focused assessments - Statistics and evaluations Viktigt att skapa så goda förutsättningar för detta som möjligt. 6

”Safety net” for children in Sweden Social services 1982 - Social Services Act (”SOL”) In all municipalities. Overall responsibility for all residents and the children´s welfare. Can provide assistance in many different ways. Both children and adults can contact the social services to get help and support. Everyone who suspects that a child may be coming to harm can notify the social services. Possibility to be anonymous.

Obligation to report Staff in preschools, schools , health care, correctional services must by law immediately notify the social services if they become aware of… Abuse Neglect Lack of care Children in alcohol- and drug abuse environment Children who are involved in crime …or other worries Most often the start of the “Barnahus-process”, according to our target group.

The social assessment Always social assessments: - Physical and sexual abuse - Children witnessing violence between parents …not necessary within other matters. Can be done against parents´ will. Time limit – 4 months. Focus on the child's needs.

“LVU” (“law of the care of young”) Possibility to act against the parents' will - and the children´s will. Foster care or institutions for treatment - may also be done by SOL = voluntary Decision in court.

Social services Family treatment Foster care Support person Support family Treatment for children/adolescent

Many other actors ensure the child's best interest Start development projects, publish books, manuals, reports, supporting research e t c… The National Board of Health and Welfare Government agency The Ombudsman for Children Government agency - representing children regarding their rights and interests on the basis of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Swedish Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority Subordinate to the Ministry of Justice Children´s Rights in Society Independent children's rights organization, member of CHI (Child Helpline International) Support children in vulnerable situations - in Sweden and in the world. Foundation - work to strengthen children in vulnerable situations.

Physical violence 1979 Sweden bans corporal punishment of children. (First country in the world) Physical violence includes hitting in purpose of education/upbringing, slap on the cheek, pulling the child's hair or ear, and so on… Change of attitude - violence has decreased. Increase in police reports show that the tolerance for child abuse decreases. Suspected perpetrators who are convicted has not increased – difficult with evidence. Does not mean that the child and its parents can get support and protection anyway.

Legal system Prosecutors and police Handle the criminal investigation - prosecutor leading it Low requirements for initiation of criminal preliminary investigation. Manual of prosecutors: - underline the importance of having a child´s perspective - emphasizes collaboration with other agencies, advocates Barnahus as a model Questioning of children should be hold within two weeks after the prosecutor decided to initiate the preliminary investigation. Preliminary investigation must be completed 90 days after the reasonable suspicion exists. Courts Objective and not personally involved The prosecutor and the accused - equal partners

What does this mean for Barnahus´ in Sweden? More matters relating physical abuse than sexual abuse. Many of the matters relating physical abuse are of minor caracter - Most of the children can go home after the forensic interview - About 20% of the cases goes to court. It is the social services who remains responsible for the child´s well-being and who continues to investigate the child's needs. Keeping the routines; - sometimes tip of the iceberg - sometimes more about bad parenting Police and prosecutors are active participants in the process.

Barnahus film

Reflections from the film…? How do children react since they are not prepared for the forensic interview? How do the parents react since they don´t have any knowledge of the child being in forensic interview? Is it really ok with so many people in the listening room?

Statistics Physical abuse – around 70 % Sexual abuse – around 30 % Age 0 – 18 years, most common: 7-12. Gender Fifty – fifty overall More girls – sexual abuse (64% - 36%) Suspects Physical abuse: Most often the parents Sexual Abuse: Differs more, (2015 rather many - other children) ”Times” Average time between police report (also = joint consultation meeting) and the interview: 8 days (2015)

Competence and education Education ”talking with children” Advanced days Barnahus day Information meeting for staff in schools and preschools

Trauma focused assessments

Crisis support and treatment Children who have been at Barnahus for a forensic interview: All children and parents are invited to an information meeting within a week. No treatment Treatment Barnahus Treatment child- and adolescent psychiatric clinic Treatment Social service

Homepage www.barnahus.se

”the Barnahus book”

Some documents to our help… Cooperation agreement - including commitments, signed by all partners Risk assessment - check list for the social workers, after police interview Things to think about before the joint consultation meeting - information required To consider in listening room - professions' roles and ”rules” “When children tell” – reminder to ask more (when, where, how, a s o) Information to the child before the police interview – mostly photos Information to the parents – after the police interview Information to the “safety person” which follows the child to Barnahus.

Challenges Major challenges Legislation on privacy Lack of documentation at Barnahus (due to privacy laws) Lack of resources of collaboration partners Barnahus team – working hard keeping the routines!

What makes it work? Joint consultation meeting Weekly team meetings Barnahus team Formal documents Describing procedures and routines. Liaison group (”working group”) Meets once a month, important forum to address any kind of issues. Representatives from all partners. Steering Committee Meets 5 times a year. Dedication and positive attitude! Genuine desire to have the best interest of the child in focus.

Tomorrow! Bus from hotel 8.30 (or short walk through the park) 6 groups For your group – look at the back of your name tag! 6 different rooms Professionals in each room (police, prosecutor, doctor, psychologist, social workers) Strict time schedule Time for questions during ”lunch sandwich”