Same origin, different implementations: a document analysis of Norwegian and Danish bereavement response plans

Abstract

This article compares the institutional bereavements response systems available in Danish and Norwegian daycare institutions when encountering critical illness or death among attached families. Both countries' structured responses are developed around bereavement response plans that highlights the actions, which should be taken by institution staff when families and children experience challenging life circumstances. Our exploration was conducted through document analysis of 65 Danish plans and 30 Norwegian plans, currently used in daycare institutions.Despite stemming from the same origin, the two approaches have diverged significantly. This includes Norwegian plans often being longer and written by professionals. In contrast, Danish plans differ more in size and quality and have mainly been written by each institution's daycare staff. The divergences are likely due to differences on an organisational level (e.g. Norwegian law) because of national events (e.g. the Utoya terror attack) and the ways propagators of the support systems went about implementing them in each country. The analysis highlights the two approaches' crucial strengths and weaknesses, which can be useful for other countries considering developing similar bereavement response initiatives.

«Helt som normalt.» Foreldresamarbeid i barnehagen når en forelder er alvorlig syk av en dødelig sykdom

“…eksempel, i tiden knyttet til selve dødsfallet gjennomfører de fleste barnehagene i vår undersøkelse utsending av felles informasjon til de andre foreldrene og minnestund for barna i barnehagen. I en nylig norsk-dansk studie gjordeLytje et al (2021) en sammenlignende dokumentanalyse av handlingsplaner ved kriser og dødsfall i norske og danske barnehager, og fant at nettopp disse handlingene var beskrevet i 100 prosent av de norske beredskapsplanene analysert i studien (n = 30). Vi foreslår at beredskapsplaner for barnehagen inneholder en plan for tidlig, proaktiv støtte med eksplisitt mål om å berede grunnen for reforhandling av samarbeidskontrakten mellom barnehage og foreldre slik at sykdom og død blir legitime samtaletema.…”