The history of Swedish Youth Care

Nils Åkesson

Råby Rescue home was set up 1838

The founder of Råby, baron Gösta Gyllenkrok

Dormitory at Råby

Johannisberg, knitting boys

Folåsa Rescue home 1901

Johannisberg evening prayers

Johannisberg gardening

Johannisberg, woodwork 1928

Folåsa hay harvest

Else Kleen:

”Having semi-qualified staff in these positions simply won´t do. Recruitement of managers is being dealt whit in a haphazard manner. Retired army officers or young unexperienced deacons are not suited as heads of protection homes”.”The more qualified the supervisors are, the emptier the punishment ledger will be”.

Långanäs where harnesses where produced for the army during the war (39-45)

Långanäs where harnesses where produced for the army during the war (39-45)

Brättegården geography lesson 1939

Youth crime rate, theft

Youth care school homes´occupancy rates.

Johannisberg in the beginning of -60

Media coverage of juvenile crimes

theftviolence

Home for assesment, Hässleholm 1991

Capacity within SiS youth care

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

LSULVU

Improving the Effectivness of Juvenile Justice Programs, Lipsey m.fl, 2010

For youths with severe antisocial problems and who are placed in closed institutions Lipsey argues for the importance of a systematic approach.

Interventions and efforts aimed at this group ought to be extensive and targeted at the youngster’s specific needs, i.e. specific risk and protective factors.

The adolescent should be offered some form of transition or re-entry programs, case managers or after-car.

A systematic approach to such challenges requires:• A thorough examination of the adolescent’s risk of relapse • Necessary treatment or support should be emphasized and

given priority • Enforcement plans or treatment plans should include a time

schedule and be possible to follow up. Furthermore, plans must be revised and followed-up on a regular basis.

Unintended harm of institutional care

Youths are separated from normal maturation processes

Family ties are, at least temporarily, cut or weakened

The development of social skills is obstructed

Negative peer influences Education may be interrupted Responsibility for everyday life is limited Compulsory care is in itself offensive

Advantages of institutional care

An institution can offer shelter in a situation of chaos and anxiety

Put a halt to destructive behavior, such as drug abuse

A youth will be inhibited from developing antisocial norms and behavior ”out there”

Compensatory schooling, health care, social training, activities of daily life, etc

Influence on the youth all day, every day (building alliances between staff and youths)

Future institutional care Institutional care must be well-structured and

predictable Treatment should be organized according to

knowledge based principles; scientific evidence, professional experience, and the youth’s own needs and preferences

Efforts should be aimed at reinforcing normal maturation processes

Limit additional coercive measures within this framework – such as seclusions or restraints

Professional management so that dysfunctional (for example repressive) manners are less likely to thrive

Competence in cooperation and working with many external parties

Tomorrow’s institution is a learning organization