In and out of care. A profile and analysis of children in the out-of-home care system in Sweden

In this paper we present a profile and analysis of children in the out-of-home care system in Sweden. We describe the conditions of three age groups of children and young people prior to their entry into care, the reasons for placement as given by social workers and documented in the children's case files, and analyze their movements in and out of care drawing attention to the issues of placement instability and breakdown. Our analyses reveal that there are important differences between age groups in rationales for placement, that a significant majority of children who returned home from care did so before social workers considered care no longer necessary, and that significant numbers of placements are notable in their instability. This study points to the need to develop participatory frameworks for practice beyond the rhetoric of solidarity and democracy that underlies Sweden's Social Services Act.

► We studied placement moves and instability in Swedish child welfare.
► Most children were placed in care on a voluntary basis.
► Placements most often ended before care was no longer necessary.
► Adolescents were most at risk of placement breakdown.
► Younger children experienced instability when parents withdrew consent to care.