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Newly arrived children and young people in the Nordic region
Integration
The integration of children, young people and families who have arrived in the Nordic countries as refugees is one of the most important challenges of our time. In 2019, we will identify early preventive social measures, methods and working practices to facilitate the inclusion of newly arrived children and their parents or other guardians.
During the period 2011–2017, more than 200,000 children and young people arrived in the Nordic countries as asylum seekers, either unaccompanied or with their families. During this time, it was more common for younger children up to the age of 13 to apply for asylum than for older children aged between 14 and 17.
The exception was 2015, when the number of older children applying for asylum in the Nordic region was roughly the same; see figure below. The needs and challenges may be different in each country, but there may also be common needs for knowledge where the countries can benefit from one another’s experiences.
School is the most important foundation for the opportunities of children and adolescentsfor a bright future. It is particularly important for children from a refugee background to start school quickly in their new country, and make friends in order to be able to enjoy a normal life.
In the publication Skolan en grund för lyckad inkludering [School – a foundation for successful inclusion], we interviewed researchers and practitioners with extensive experience and knowledge of school and integration. There is also a description of how the countries organise measures in the education system for children from a migration background.
Early measures and interventions
In 2018, we have identified early and preventive social measures that facilitate the inclusion of newcomerchildren and their parents or other guardians. A Nordic group of experts has been formed to provide examples from their countries.
Four examples of early and preventive measures are FHille in Finland, which is a home interaction programme for children and parents, and MindSpring in Denmark, which is a group programme for refugees about life in exile. SAMMEN (Together) from Norway is a peer-to-peer project for young people, and for newly born and their parents in Sweden. Extended postnatal home visiting programme is being implemented as a strategy to reduce inequalities in health.
Reports
Integration
10 May 2017
Greeting to the Nordic politicians and unaccompanied minors
In this booklet you will find information about society's reception of unaccompanied refugee children in the Nordic region, as wel [...]
Integration
1 Feb 2017
Samhällets mottagande av ensamkommande i Norden
RÄTTELSE: Siffrorna i Tabell 1 på sidan 9 behöver förtydligas eftersom tabellen felaktigt kan läsas som att det 2015 i värld [...]
Integration
1 Mar 2018
School – a basis for successful inclusion
Between 2011 and 2016, nearly 200 000 children and young people arrived in the Nordic countries as asylum seekers, either unaccomp [...]
