Better outcomes for children
A Nordic conference, focusing on families after divorce or separation, with a clear child perspective and a base in the UN CRC, considering children as independent rights holders, with a right to participate, whose opinions and experiences are central to this discussion.
When
To be announced soonThe Conference site
The conference site is Grand Hótel, Sigtún 38, 105 Reykjavík.
Registration
The conference is sponsored by The Nordic Council of Ministers. Admission is free but registration is required.
Programme
| 08:15 - 08:45 |
Welcome coffee and registration |
|---|---|
| 08:45 - 09:00 | Opening remark, Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Justice |
| 09:00 - 09:45 | Gert Martin Hald and Søren Sander - Cooperation after Divorce |
| 09:45 - 10:00 | Coffee and refreshment break |
| 10:00 - 10:45 | Ulrica Renström and Rebecca Berg - Investigations of custody and residence of children and children´s right of access with a parent; a guide to risk assessment for social services |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | Sigrún Júlíusdóttir og Gyða Hjartardóttir - The implementation and localization of the Danish Divorce Service Programme in Iceland |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | Lunch |
| 12:15 – 13:00 | Sanna Koulu - Finland's newly reformed Child Custody Act: Challenges and solutions |
| 13:00 – 13:30 | Valgerður Halldórsdóttir - Most of them become stepchildren. Experiences of children and their message to the adults |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | Jartrud Sofie Frafjord - Walking the tightrope. Children juggling roles, relations and considerations when parents split up |
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Coffee and refreshment break |
| 14:45 – 15:30 | Marianne Gabrielsson - Supporting Children and Parents in Sweden through Collaboration Teams |
| 15:30– 16:15 | Nordic Panel discussion – Salvör Nordal, Gert Martin Helding, Marianne Gabrielsson, Jartrud Sofie Frafjord and Sanna Koulu - How can we ensure better outcomes for children through innovation and new means of cooperation |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Salvör Nordal Ombudsman for children - closing remarks |
Speakers
Gert Martin Hald is a psychologist, PhD and associate professor at the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen. He is a Carlsberg Distinguished Associate Professor fellow and won in November The Innovation Price 2019 from the University of Copenhagen for the digital divorce platform 'Cooperation after Divorce' (CAD). He is the senior or co-author of close to 100 scientific papers. Scientifically his field of expertise concerns relation- and sexuality research. Hald is also the co-inventor of the CAD platform which is widely implemented in Denmark and currently under implementation in Iceland.
Søren Sander is a psychologist and PhD follow at the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen. Søren is also the director of a company specializing in the development of digital solutions. Since 1994 Søren has worked with some of the biggest Danish companies like Novo Nordisk and Lego in the development of digital solutions. Along with Gert Martin Hald, Sander is the co-creator of the Cooperation after Divorce digital divorce platform.
Ulrica Renström, Specialist officer at Family Law and Parental Support Authority in Sweden. Ulrica has a law degree and works mainly with family law at Family Law and Parental Support Authority.
Rebecca Berg is a Specialist officer at Family Law and Parental Support Authority in Sweden. A Social work graduate and works mainly with family law at the Family Law and Parental Support Authority.
Dr. Sigrún Júlíusdóttir, Professor Emerita in social work at the University of Iceland. Founder and Board Director of the Centre for Children and Family Research from 2006, runs a counselling service for individuals, couples and families since 1982. Educated as a Social Worker from Lund University and Fil.Cand. in Social Sciences from the University of Stockholm in 1972. Master's Degree in clinical Social Work from the University of Michigan in 1978, a licenced therapist from the University of Gothenburg in 1988 and a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Gothenburg in 1993. Research in the area of divorce and on communication following the divorce or death of parents, and on supervision and professional development.
Gyða Hjartardóttir is an expert in the matters of children and a mediator at the District Commissioner in Reykjavik and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Iceland. A licensed social worker with a bachelor's degree in education and pedagogy from the University of Iceland and is a Cand.scient.psych. from the University in Aalborg 1999. Educated and licensed as a mediator and has a diploma in public administration. Has worked as a social worker, a Municipal Head of Social Services and as an expert in social services at the Icelandic Association of municipalities. Research in the areas of child protection, social services, and interview techniques.
Sanna Koulu (LL.D., trained on the bench) works as a senior officer at the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland, focusing especially on legislative matters related to children's rights. She is also a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Lapland, Finland, where the project CAPS which examines children's knowing agency in cases of parental stalking. She is a member of the Ethics Committee of Youth and Childhood Studies in Finland since 2018.
Valgerður Halldórsdóttir is a social worker with an MA in the field. She is also a qualified teacher and has a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She founded the Stepfamilies' Association in 2005, of which she is the president. She has held numerous lectures and courses, and written articles about stepfamilies. She wrote the book Who is in the family in 2012 on stepfamilies and divorce and is currently working on a new book. Valgerður is a clinical social worker since 2004 and has worked mostly with stepfamilies and parents going through divorce. She also a mediator and specialist in children's matters at the District Commissioner in Reykjavík.
Jartrud Sofie Frafjord Works at the Family Counselling Service in Tromsø Norway. Leader of a national team which has the purpose of increasing our understanding of children's needs when parents separate, are in conflict or family crisis.
Marianne Gabrielsson is a project and a process leader at the Children's Welfare Foundation. She works on a strategic level in the field of Child Protection and Family Support. Her field of expertise covers Political Science, Communication, Psychology, Family Law, Family Treatment and Child Protection. Focus has been on Parental support and Early Intervention, Child Protection, Sexual Exploitation of Children, Children and Domestic Violence and Children in High Conflict Divorce. She also holds a position at the Head Department of Social Services in the City of Stockholm