Concern Report to Child Welfare Services

In Brief

Do you want to report concerns about a child experiencing difficulties or neglect? You can submit a concern report to the child welfare services in your municipality. Child welfare services rely on such reports to provide necessary help, care, and protection to children in need.

Description

A concern report can be submitted by parents, the child themselves, or other private individuals who know the child. Child welfare services also receive concern reports from public authorities such as schools, healthcare providers, and the police. Once you have submitted a concern report, child welfare services will assess whether the report should be followed up with a home assessment. This assessment must be initiated within one week of receiving the report. Child welfare services may contact you for additional information. It is possible to submit a concern report anonymously. In your concern report, you should describe what you have seen or heard that raises your concern. Be aware that the family is often given access to the report.

Related brochures, documents, maps and similar

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Regulations

Laws

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Practical Information

Guidance - how to obtain or receive the service

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call or send a letter by mail

If you want to remain anonymous, you cannot use the National Portal for Concern Reports. Instead, you can download a form External link. and send the concern report by mail without disclosing your identity. You can also call child welfare services directly and choose not to give your name.

Find your local child welfare emergency service | Child Welfare Emergency Services External link.

Case Processing

When you submit a concern report about a child, child welfare services must follow up. They will assess what kind of support the child and family need. Child welfare services are bound by confidentiality, which means you will not receive information about how they follow up with the child and family. If the child’s situation remains concerning or has worsened, it is important that you contact child welfare services in your municipality again.

Processing Time

Child welfare services must review incoming concern reports as quickly as possible to identify any urgent needs for assistance. If a concern report is not urgent, it must still be processed within one week of being received.

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