Assessing appeals against emergency placements in Norway: A balancing act

This article explores what the County Social Welfare Boards (CSWBs) emphasize in their decisions on appeals against emergency placements due to concerns of violence. A qualitative document analysis of 23 appeal cases focused on how the CSWBs assess the cause and context of the violence, parents' potential for change, and how children's statements were weighted in decisions. The results show a zero-tolerance attitude toward violence. Exceptions are found in cases where parents have an immigrant background, and where parents are described as resourceful. The child's subjective experience and emotions related to the violence are given due weight in assessments.