Children’s Advocacy Centers (Barnahus) in Sweden

This article is based on an evaluation of Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) in six municipalities in Sweden 2006–2007. The
study concerned cooperation between different authorities (police, social services, public prosecutor, forensic medicine,
pediatrics and child psychiatry) responsible for children who were suspected of being exposed to sexual or physical abuse.
It is anticipated that use of CACs will improve the quality of investigations and that the legal process should thus be facilitated
and rendered more effective. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 12 children and 22 parents at the different centers.
Interviews included their experiences regarding the place and the premises, the treatment, earlier contacts with professionals,
information and access to treatment and support. The results show that both children and parents appreciated the child—friendly
and safe environment and the kind treatment by the staff. Information from the professionals was of crucial importance. The
different processes taking place in connection with interrogation and assessments were potentially (at times) difficult to
understand. It was at times difficult for the professional actors to take both the children’s, the parents’ and the families’
perspectives into consideration especially in relation to the suspected offenders. Voices from children and parents have contributed
to deepened understanding about the complexity in applying a child—centered approach and a child perspective within the domain
of child protection. The evaluation generated important knowledge with implications for practice and further development of
Children’s advocacy centers.