Calls for Comprehensive Reform of Swedish Youth Care Institutions
Stefan Holgersson calls for a complete reform of Sweden's youth care system to improve safety and quality.
Key Points
- • Stefan Holgersson critiques the current HVB system as unsafe and low quality.
- • Proposes a new model called 'hem för barn och unga' for youth care.
- • New homes would require strict standards for staffing and safety.
- • Current HVB facilities to focus on adult care only in the future.
In a recent debate article published on June 23, 2025, in Dagens Nyheter, Stefan Holgersson, the government's special investigator, has brought significant attention to the dire state of Sweden's youth care institutions. Holgersson asserts that the current institutional care system, known as HVB (Hem för Vård och Boende), is marked by insecurity and inadequate quality, leaving many vulnerable children and adolescents without proper support.
Holgersson proposes a complete overhaul of the existing system, advocating for a new placement model dubbed 'hem för barn och unga' (homes for children and youths). These new homes would be governed by strict requirements concerning staffing, safety, and overall content, distinguishing them from the current HVB framework, which he recommends should transition to exclusively serve adults in the future.
The proposal comes in response to growing criticism surrounding the safety and effectiveness of the existing care environment for young people. As articulated by Holgersson, the goal of these reforms is to enhance the care quality and ensure a safer environment for youths in need of support services, marking a significant shift in how Sweden addresses its youth care challenges.
Holgersson emphasizes the need for evident and enforceable standards within these proposed homes to ensure they provide not just adequate supervision but also nurturing environments that cater to the developmental needs of children and adolescents. His statements resonate with many advocates who have long voiced concerns about the systemic issues rooted in the HVB framework.
The discourse surrounding these proposals is expected to unfold further in the coming months, as policymakers review the recommendations put forth by Holgersson and consider the possibilities for practical implementation of the suggested reforms.