Mapping municipal measures to help socially vulnerable young people

This report is the first of two reports based on a survey carried out by the Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI) on municipal preventive measures initiated according to section 52 of the Consolidating Act on Social Services in order to help young people with special needs. The survey, financed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, stems from the increasing focus on early action for young people (14-to-17-year-olds) in the child placement reform.
The report maps municipal preventive measures for young people viewed from three different perspectives: What preventive measures are being taken by the municipalities? What types of young person are receiving preventive measures, and how do young people respond when receiving preventive measures?
The survey is based on analyses by 21 municipalities of their preventive measures, a survey of case officers for young people receiving preventive measures and young people in care, respectively, and 12 qualitative interviews with young people receiving preventive measures.
The survey shows a great variation in the type of measures being taken by the municipalities to help socially vulnerable young people. It also demonstrates that young people receiving preventive measures in their own environment have many, and serious, problems. Many young people experience that the measures are extremely important in their lives.