Gaps in the laws concerning children being cared for in family homes were brutally exposed when the circumstances surrounding the death of three-year-old Esmeralda a year ago became known.

Many wondered, among other things, why her strong emotional ties to the family home, which she had lived in since the age of six weeks, were not considered when the issue of reunion with the biological parents was tried in court.

Four law changes with the child's best interests in focus

Legislative shortcomings were considered by the opposition parties in the Riksdag, which demanded a tightening of the Act on the Care of Young People (LVU) and the Social Services Act.

The critics considered that the child's relationship to the family home should be considered in the assessment when the question of whether the family home care should cease becomes relevant.

In December, the Riksdag voted through an amendment to the law which, among other things, means that the child's connection to the family home shall be given priority when the Social Welfare Board examines the issue.

At the same time, three more legislative amendments were hammered through, all of which will take effect on 1 March this year: Special suitability requirements will be introduced for representatives representing involuntary children in court.

Placed children's care plan shall be reviewed after two years and the issue of transfer of custody at the family home, which the social welfare board is obliged to examine after three years, shall thereafter be examined annually.

Several legislative changes are being investigated

The children's ombudsman Elisabeth Dahlin thinks that the law changes are good but wants to see more.

- It is important, for example, that the children who are reunited with their original family after being placed in a family home are followed up, she says.

This is a question for the inquiry that the government appointed in April with the task of submitting proposals on how the security and rights of placed children should be strengthened.

In addition to the question of follow-up, the investigator must also review the possibility of introducing drug tests for the guardians when the child's reunification with them is to be assessed.

The investigator's assignment also includes seeing whether the social welfare board's obligation to consider whether a transfer of custody of the family home, for children who have lived there for a long time, should be made earlier than the three years that apply today.

At the end of February, the investigator's proposal will be submitted to the government.

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In the clip, SVT Nyheter Öst's reporter Axel Brantemo tells more about the high-profile case.

Photo: Carl Larsson / SVT