– I haven’t found out who I am and what I stand for, he says “Siri”.
She says she was 16 when child protection took care of her. In two years she has moved five times, from emergency shelters and to various institutions.
Siri believes this has made her unable to trust people.
– There is not an inch of safety in my body.
NRK has already told the story of Patrik, who moved 14 times before he turned 18.
Every time a child is moved, they have to adjust to a new environment and build trust in new caregivers.
And it costs, according to the pros.
A sense of loss
– I don’t think people know how far some of these babies actually move, says Hege Stein Helland.
She works at University of Bergen, political science research and specializes in child protection.
Researcher Hege Stein Helland is concerned that children in childcare are being moved around a lot.
According to Helland, moves mean that children have to change guardians, but in many cases they also have to change schools and leave friends, and sometimes even siblings.
– This is a big upset. Children and young people can feel a sense of loss, of not belonging, says Helland.
Siri has known a lot about pain and despair. She didn’t finish her studies.
– Gradually, I began to think that something was wrong with me.
Lifelong consequences
According to Helland, barna feels rejected and unwanted.
Many of the children have already been exposed to abandonment and broken relationships. Then the need for security will be very strong.
– Instability and a lack of belonging can lead children to have lifelong challenges with relationships with others and managing emotions and stress, says Helland.
Emphasize that there can be many reasons children are moved. And if they’re well planned, the negative effects can be minor.
– But in general, moving is something you should definitely avoid. It’s clearly a burden to many children, she says.
Minister for Children and Families, Kjersti Toppe, says she understands the insecurity Siri is experiencing. La Toppe met several girls who recounted similar experiences, and it struck her.
– That’s why I want to regulate transfers better than today. We will create a new way of managing child protection, where children will receive help close to where they live, and we will avoid any relocation of children that is not in the best interests of the child, says Kjersti Toppe, referring to the committee that will evaluate the changes in institutional childcare.
Uncertain future
Siri, who is currently 25, doesn’t know what future she has.
– I can’t do it alone. I always depend on the assistance and support of those around me. I’m pretty sure it comes from all the moving, she says.
She is no longer in child protection, but still has major trust issues.
– Nobody comes near me. My boyfriend said he was lucky to make it.
