Youth Experiences of and Views on Un-locked Coercive Placement in Residential Child Care

Monika Alvestad Reime,Ingunn Barmen Tysnes

doi:10.1177/1103308820937560

Monika Alvestad Reime, Ingunn Barmen Tysnes

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308820937560

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Journal: YOUNG	Publication Date: Aug 27, 2020
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Abstract

This article explores Norwegian youth experiences of and views on coercive placement in un-locked residential child care institutions. Inspired by Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, the article discusses factors that make placement an opportunity for development among youth with serious drug and behavioural problems. The empirical material comes from interviews with 34 youth under and after coercive placement. The findings reveal that coercive placement in un-locked institutions can be helpful and necessary, provided that the institutions have the means available to protect the residents and provide supportive and meaningful treatment content. Factors such as treatment structure, the content of everyday life, clear expectations, and boundaries are discussed as important factors that help the placement to be an opportunity for development among youth with serious drug and behavioural problems.

Highlights

Coercive placement in residential child care institutions is a serious intervention that is seen as a last resort to be used when other measures have failed
This article is based on interviews with 34 Norwegian youths with experiences of coercive placement in un-locked residential child care institutions
The placement meant that they were deprived of the opportunity to make decisions regarding their own lives. It was hard for the youths if their parents agreed with the child welfare services and supported the coercive placement

Summary

Introduction

Coercive placement in residential child care institutions is a serious intervention that is seen as a last resort to be used when other measures have failed Coercive placement and the use of restrictions in Norway, as in other countries, have been discussed. Ulset and Tjelflot (2012) explored the use of restrictions, control, and physical restraints in child care institutions and found that they can be experienced as both scary and insulting. Youths’ experiences with coercive placement will be elucidated from a salutogenic perspective (Antonovsky, 2000). The salutogenic perspective relates to health and development in a wide sense, and the factors that cause people to move toward good health are among the key issues

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