Recurrence, eruptions, and a transnational turn: Three decades of strained relations between migrants to Norway and the Child Welfare Services

Abstract

The relations between the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS) and various migrant groups are notably strained. Numerous media accounts and a growing body of research reveal that many migrants to Norway fear the CWS. By combining quantitative and qualitative analyses of media accounts, this paper addresses the historical evolvement of such strained relations in Norway. Previous research has neglected this aspect. Findings show that migration issues related to the CWS have been topics of public debate in Norway for three decades, with foster care being a particularly intractable concern. With the onset of the decade beginning in 2010, however, matters have intensified and taken on transnational dimensions. In the discussion of our findings, we emphasize in particular how digital and social media have contributed to the recent changes.

‘The art of kindergarten drop off’: how young Norwegian-Somali parents perform ethnicity to avoid reports to Child Welfare Services

“…In line with previous research on migrants in Norway (Berg et al, 2017;Fylkesnes et al, 2015) and the media attention given to the topic (Vassenden & Vedøy, 2019), our participants are sceptical of the CWS. However, the reasons are not fear of custody takeover, lack of knowledge, or a product of their cultural backgroundsissues that are common among newcomers.…”

“…In Norway too, the CWS engages with immigrant families more than native families. It is however noteworthy, that overrepresentation in Norway concerns investigations and in-home support, not care-orders (Vassenden & Vedøy, 2019). Somali children align with this pattern.…”

“…Nevertheless, the relationships between the Norwegian CWS and several migrant groups are strained. Media accounts and a growing body of research (Berg et al, 2017;Fylkesnes, Nygren, Bjørknes, & Iversen, 2015;Vassenden & Vedøy, 2019) provide evidence that many migrants fear the agency, with Somalis sometimes reported to be particularly distrustful. Although researchers have reported such fear in other countries too (Earner, 2007), deficiencies in existing knowledge are striking.…”

The perspectives of parents and healthcare professionals towards parental needs and support from healthcare professionals during the first two years of children’s lives

“…The fear of parents that healthcare professionals will report them to social services, is not unfounded as there is an unequal power relationship between parents and healthcare professionals: healthcare professionals in the Netherlands can intervene if they have concerns about the well-being of children (see also Knijn & Van Nijnatten, 2011 ; López et al, 2019 ). The Dutch child welfare system bears similarities with the Child Welfare Services in Norway and Sweden, and a studies from these countries also describe feelings of distrust by parents (Korzeniewska et al, 2019 ; Vassenden & Vedøy, 2019 ). Hallberg et al ( 2001 ) describes how some parents experienced the check-ups by child healthcare services as a form of “surveillance”, and immigrant families living in Norway expressed feeling controlled, watched and disempowered (Tembo et al, 2020 ).…”

Beyond fear of child welfare services : An ethnographic study among Norwegian-Somali parents

“…The relationship between migrants in Norway and the child welfare service (CWS) is strained. Both research and the media report that many migrants fear the CWS (Berg et al, 2017;Fylkesnes, Iversen, Bjørknes & Nygren, 2015;Vassenden & Vedøy, 2019). This fear and distrust among migrants is not a new phenomenon.…”