Out of home care in Norway and Sweden - similar and different / Medidas de protección a la infancia con separación familiar en Noruega y Suecia: Semejantes y diferentes

En este artículo se presenta una revisión de la situación actual de las medidas de acogimiento en Noruega y Suecia, a la vez que se describe y comenta el desarrollo en años posteriores. Hay pocas diferencias sociales, políticas y culturales entre Noruega y Suecia. La protección de la infancia y las medidas de acogimiento de niños y jóvenes son elementos integrantes del Estado de bienestar que comparten los países nórdicos. Se trata de un modelo que se cimenta en los principios de universalismo y desmercantilización de los derechos sociales. El modelo de bienestar presupone una elevada legitimidad del elevado nivel de gasto social. No obstante, la idea de mercantilización y privatización ha afectado también al modelo de bienestar en Suecia y Noruega. A pesar de que haya más semejanzas que diferencias entre los sistemas de protección de la infancia de los dos países, el artículo aborda algunas diferencias, como los servicios posacogida, los nuevos grupos de niños y jóvenes con medidas de separación familiar, como los menores extranjeros no acompañados. También hay algunas diferencias en cuanto a la privatización, la introducción de métodos empíricos en el sistema de protección de la infancia y la tensión entre los servicios generales y residuales para los niños y jóvenes en el sistema de protección infantil (AU)

An overview of the current situation in the out-of-home care in Norway and Sweden is presented in this article; also the development in later years is described and discussed. Socially, politically and culturally there are few differences between Norway and Sweden. Child protection and out-of-home placement of children and young people are integrated parts in the welfare state that are shared by the Nordic countries. It is a model that builds on principles of universalism and decommodification of social rights. The welfare model presupposes high public legitimacy for a high level of social expenditure. However the idea of marketization and privatization has also affected the welfare model in Sweden and Norway. Although there are more similarities than differences between the two countries' child protection systems, the article discusses some differences, for example the after care services, new groups of children and young people in the out-of-home care, like young unaccompanied asylum seekers. There are also some differences when it comes to privatization, the introduction of evidence-based methods in the child protection system and the tension between general and residual services for children and young people in the child protection system (AU)

Chapter 2. General theoretical perspectives of narrative analysis of substance use-related dependency.

This chapter provides a short introduction to, and an overview for, using narrative analysis in the understanding of the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs. Important theoretical and methodological dimensions are discussed. Some tentative conclusions, limitations, and unresolved critical issues concerning the use of narrative research methods in the analysis of substance use-related dependency problems are also presented.

Chapter 4. A self-theoretical perspective on the use-misuse of alcohol and drugs based on qualitative and narrative data.

This article discusses different self-theoretical perspectives of the self that are of importance in the analysis of the use and misuse of alcohol and psychoactive drugs. The self-theories considered here include cognitive, psychodynamic, transpersonal, and social constructivist perspectives. A multidimensional perspective focusing on the connection between identity structures and analyzing the use/misuse of alcohol and psychoactive drugs is presented. The article argues for a self-theoretical analysis based on narrative data in order to reach an in-depth understanding of the use and misuse of alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

Chapter 10. Perspectives on treatment, alliance and narratives concerning substance use-related dependency.

This article considers different perspectives on the treatment of substance use-related dependency, focusing on the importance of a therapeutic relationship, working alliance, counseling, and the use of narrative methods. The article also discusses some unresolved critical issues concerning the possibilities and limitations of acquiring necessary knowledge about substance use-related dependency when using narrative research methods. The main conclusion is that the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client is of crucial importance for a positive outcome of treatment and that narrative methods provide a detailed empirical database for analyses of substance use-related dependency.

Chapter 11. Narratives of clients' experiences of drug use and treatment of substance use-related dependency.

The article focuses on narratives of clients' experiences of using/misusing alcohol and drugs and includes comments on their therapeutic process during treatment for dependency on psychoactive drugs. It discusses the role of narratives that focus on clients' experiences of understanding the use/misuse of psychoactive drugs, emphasizing the importance of the narratives. Narrative therapy for substance-use-related dependency is discussed. Insight into the treatment processes of dependency, based on narrative case illustrations, is also provided.

Chapter 14. Discussion about narrative methods as a strategy for investigating and understanding the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs.

Preliminary and tentative conclusions concerning theoretical and methodological issues about narrative methods and their use as a research strategy for investigating and understanding the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs are presented. The treatment methods that are influenced by narrative strategies as well as this tool's limitations are noted. The article focuses particularly on approaches based on, and influenced by, psychology, sociology and social work when conducting narrative research.