Universal Parenting Support in Norway – An Unfulfilled Promise

Abstract

This article examines the expansion and underlying aims of structured parenting support in Norway. Norway's approach to parenting support differs from that of most other countries (Glavin and Schaffer, 2014), in supposedly being universal and offered to all parents (Eng et al., 2017). However, it is difficult to determine whether parenting support in Norway is actually unique, since little is known about how it is implemented in practice (Bråten and Sønsterudbråten, 2016; Wesseltoft-Rao et al., 2017). This article contributes further knowledge of how parenting support travels from national-level policy-making down to the level of municipal institutions where it is implemented. The analysis draws upon insights from a comprehensive case study in Bergen, Norway's second largest city, that included fieldwork observations and service mapping over a period of two years (2015–2017), a large number of in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, and analysis of relevant documents (advertisements, project applications and project reports, budgets, etc.).

Parenting Support in Europe's North: How Is It Understood and Evaluated in Research?

“…Particular groups 1 should, however, be offered more intensive services (ibid.). Previous research on the implementation of structured parental support programmes from the Nordic countries indicates that this mix of universal approach and more targeted measures, which was suggested as a model for a common framework, also seems to correspond with current practice in those countries (see contributions from Sihvonen, 2018;Sundsbø, 2018; see also Lundqvist, 2015). In aiming to understand what this approach means in practice, the following description is taken from the report by the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (Marklund and Simic, 2012): Most parents should be offered 'light' parenting support in the form of consultations as a short-term intervention.…”

“…Most Nordic studies that apply a social science perspective to parenting support comprise various forms of policy analysis. They typically investigate how parenting support policies are described, justified, and legitimised in policy documents, political debates, and handbooks of parenting support programmes (Widding, 2011; Danielsen et al ., 2012) (see also the contributions from Widding, 2018; Sihvonen, 2018; Sundsbø, 2018; Littmarck et al ., 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, a considerable number of studies have discussed strong linkages between parenting support and political interests and goals. Many of the research contributions analyse parenting support as an instrument to control parents and children in order to achieve politically desired goals 4 (Danielsen and Mühleisen, 2009; Hennum, 2010; Dahlstedt and Fejes, 2013; Erstad, 2015; Lundqvist, 2015) (also see contributions from Widding, 2018; Sihvonen, 2018; Sundsbø, 2018; Littmarck et al , 2018). Within this line of thought, investments in parental guidance are seen as being introduced in order to shape parents and children into subjects who will conduct themselves and their relations with others in ways that produce politically desirable ends and hence reduce costs for society (ibid).…”

“…Thus, parenting support in the Nordic countries is presented as a universal service that aims to reach all (kinds of) parents. However, (a few) observations on how the policies are shaped and implemented in practice, show that this is not realised as a service that addresses all parents on equal terms (Lundqvist, 2015; see also contributions from Widding, 2018; Sundsbø, 2018).…”

Introduction: Parenting Support in the Nordic Countries: Is there a Specific Nordic Model?

“…In the article from Norway, Sundsbø describes the implementation of parenting support services, tracing their way from the policy to the operational level – down to what is actually offered to parents, and to whom (which social groups of parents) (Sundsbø, 2018b). Based on her insights from a case study in Norway's second largest city, she finds that parenting support services are not provided ‘universally’, as the policy suggests.…”