The Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo) states in a new report that over 3,500 children this year have had to wait more than three months for support measures from social services. In recent years, the figure has been around 3,000 per year.
Every day that passes without them receiving the support they need is another day where it risks escalating in various ways, says Minister for Social Affairs Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M).
When a measure has been granted, for example to break an addiction or prevent a child from being drawn into crime, the main rule is that it should be implemented as quickly as possible.
Over half of the 3,500 who are forced to wait longer than that have to wait for over six months, a fifth more than a year.
"Must respond"
The Minister for Social Affairs emphasizes that the responsibility for children not receiving the support they are entitled to ultimately lies with the municipalities.
What responsibility do you have?
The government has a great responsibility to ensure that there are the right tools in the form of legislation. Legislation is important, but it is a municipal responsibility that the municipalities must respond to.
The government has placed great emphasis on taking a tougher stance against organized crime. At the same time, gang members are getting younger. Are you investing enough in preventive work?
I want to emphasize that one of the government's most prioritized tasks is to break recruitment. This means working here and now, but also early and preventively.
Laws and billions
She highlights the abolition of official secrecy and an investment of nearly ten billion kronor in the implementation of the new Social Services Act, which is intended to provide earlier preventive measures. Money that, according to the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, will not be enough.
In addition, we are investing almost five billion kronor specifically in targeted preventive measures. But for me, it is also clear that every krona we invest in the police is also a resource for preventive measures.
When will we see these investments bear fruit?
I hope we will start to see it as soon as possible. But it is important to remember that this is a comprehensive overhaul of the entire social policy. It naturally takes time, but is absolutely necessary because the care chain around children and young people has broken down in many places in a comprehensive way, which the Ivo report is a clear example of.
