Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur familjerättssekreterares tolkar och beaktar barnets bästa i vårdnadstvistutredningar. Studien baseras på nio kvalitativa, semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien kommer att behandla barnets bästa, föräldraförmåga och risker för barnet. I resultatet framkommer att begreppet “barnets bästa” är svårt att definiera men att familjerättssekreterarna ser till barnets utsatta situation. Forskning och studiens resultat pekar på att barn i vårdnadstvistutredningar är i en utsatt situation och offer för föräldrars konflikt. Resultatet visar att familjerättssekreterare ser att föräldrar i en vårdnadstvist uppvisar bristande föräldraförmåga i jämförelse med föräldrar som inte är i vårdnadstvist och de kan därför inte tillgodose barnets behov av trygghet och stabilitet. I diskussionen kopplas studiens resultat samman med tidigare forskning samt systemteorin och handlingsteorin. Det visar sig att systemteorin kan ses som en utgångspunkt i familjerättssekreterares arbete även om det inte uttrycks som så. Det framkommer att familjerättssekreterare känner en frihet i sitt handlingsutrymme och att de utför målinriktade handlingar. / The study aims to investigate how family secretaries interpret and consider the child's best interests in custody investigations. The study is based on nine qualitative, semi-structured interviews. The study will address the child's best interests, parental ability and risks for the child. The result shows that the term "best interests of the child" is difficult to define, but that the family secretaries look to the child's vulnerable situation. Research and study results indicate that children in child custody disputes are in a vulnerable situation and victims of parental conflict. The result shows that family secretaries see that parents in a custody dispute show a lack of parental ability compared to parents who are not in custody disputes and therefore cannot meet the child's need for security and stability. In the discussion, the results of the study are linked to previous research as well as system theory and action theory. It turns out that the system theory can be seen as a starting point in the work of family secretaries, even if it is not expressed as such. It shows that family secretaries feel freedom in their room for maneuver and that they carry out targeted actions.

Esta pesquisa objetivou estudar o princípio do melhor interesse da criança tanto em seu viés teórico quanto prático, na tentativa de se concluir se é possível ou não adotar-se critérios predeterminados para serem seguidos na tomada de decisões em questões envolvendo crianças e adolescentes. Na primeira parte, teórica, estudou-se o conteúdo do melhor interesse, e se poderia ele ser entendido como regra de interpretação, direito fundamental ou princípio. Já a segunda parte, prática, buscou analisar como os tribunais vêm decidindo algumas questões que resvalam no melhor interesse. Para tal, alguns institutos foram selecionados (guarda, adoção, parto anônimo, visitas e educação). A análise da guarda passou pela sua diferenciação entre colocação em família substituta e atribuição a um dos pais em caso de separação. Discutiu-se a possibilidade de atribuição a terceira pessoa e de imposição da modalidade compartilhada. Estudou-se o direito de visitas para o caso de a guarda ter sido atribuída a somente um dos pais. Estendeu-se a pesquisa para a hipótese de garantir-se esse direito a amigos, padrastos, madrastas e padrinhos. A adoção foi estudada nas modalidades à brasileira, intuitu personae e internacional. Ainda, analisou-se a possibilidade de adoção por casal homoafetivo. Embora inexistente no direito brasileiro, o parto anônimo foi analisado para se observar se viável e necessário em nosso ordenamento. Por fim, estudou-se o direito à educação, realçando-se alguns aspectos como a possibilidade de o ensino ser realizado fora de estabelecimentos oficiais, transporte de crianças até suas escolas e a possibilidade de exigirem-se vagas em creches. / This research aimed to study the principle of the best interest of the child, both in theory and in practice, in an attempt to conclude whether it is possible or not to adopt predetermined criteria to be followed in making decisions on issues involving children and adolescents. In the first part, theoretical, the content of the best interest was studied, as well as the possibility of understanding it as a rule of interpretation, fundamental right or principle. The second part, practical, sought to analyze how the courts have been deciding issues involving the best interest. In doing so, some institutes were selected (guardianship, adoption, anonymous childbirth, visits and education). The analysis of the guardianship passed by differentiating between placement in foster family and its assignment to one of the parents in case of separation. The possibility of assigning it to a third person and the imposition of shared custody were discussed. The visitation rights in case when the custody has been awarded to only one parent was studied. The research was extended to the hypothesis of granting this right to friends, stepfathers, stepmothers and godfathers or godmothers. The research studied Brazilian, intuitu personae and international adoptions, as well as the possibility of adoption by homosexual couples. Although non-existing under Brazilian law, the anonymous childbirth was analyzed to observe if it is viable and needed in our system. Finally, the right of education was studied, and aspects such as the possibility of homeschooling, transportation of children to their schools and the requiring of vacancies in childcare facilities were highlighted.

As the divorce rate in the United States remains steady at 50%, the last few decades have shown an increase in child custody disputes. Within these litigations, interparental conflict can reach high levels and incite behaviors that wreak havoc on the children who are caught in the middle. When considering custody arrangements, judges and other evaluators use the Best Interest of the Child Standard (BICS), a jurisdictionally-specific framework that examines several factors that contribute to a child’s health and well-being. Parents who allow their resentments to get the better of them sometimes engage in behavior that encourages their child to become alienated from the other parent, known as Parental Alienation (PA) —a form of psychological abuse that can result in emotional and behavioral consequences for the child. While some states investigate components relevant to PA during a BICS evaluation, none include criteria that directly addresses this construct. Therefore, to achieve the intended outcome of BICS, which is to create a custody arrangement that will best meet a child’s needs, recognizing and addressing the presence of PA within a family system is required.

ABSTRACT This project discusses the development of Keep in Touch. Keep in Touch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which is designed to aid the visitation process. Visitation is concerned with children and their families who have been separated. Reasons for separation vary; however, many children have been separated and would benefit greatly from a local visitation program. Items such as children’s rights, California’s mandatory mediation law, and the current conditions of the family court house in San Bernardino County are all discussed and examined as supporting evidence to the problem of family visitation. The goal of Keep in Touch is to provide a comfortable environment, both physical and virtual, that encourages open communication (dialogue) between children and their families. The cultural climate of Keep in Touch is one that encourages, supports and nurtures the natural connection between children and their families.

I denna uppsats undersöks begreppet ”barnets bästa” med utgångspunkten att granska vilka olika föreställningar som finns och har funnits kring vad detta innebär. Detta begrepp är inte nytt för vår tid, men det har debatterats mer efter tillkomsten av Förenta Nationernas konvention om barnets rättigheter som antogs 1989. Barnets bästa är dock en social konstruktion och innebörden av begreppet förändras därför ständigt. Metoden som ligger till grund för denna uppsats är dels en genomgång av litteratur och dels en textanalys av två historiska källmaterial bestående av en proposition från 1924, prop. 1924:150, och en av statens offentliga utredningar från 1997, SOU 1997:116. Genom denna textanalys framkommer både likheter och skillnader mellan samhällets syn på barnets bästa. Det kan konstateras att föreställningarna kring vad barnets bästa innebär har förändrats sedan början av 1900-talet. Utvecklingen av barnets bästa hänger samman med en mängd faktorer såsom synen på barn, rådande kultur, normer, värderingar, kunskap, ekonomi, politiska idéer, reformer och genusföreställningar. Slutsatsen är att vuxna såg till barnets bästa även i början av 1900-talet, men att begreppet då hade en annan innebörd. Därmed kan det konstateras att barnets bästa har varit, är och förblir ett begrepp i förändring. / In this paper the conception “the best interest of the child” examines with the starting-point to study which different ideas that exists and have existed about what this means. This conception is not new for today, but it has been debated more frequently after the creation of the United Nations Children’s Convention which was accepted in 1989. However, the best interest of the child is a social construction and therefore the meaning of the conception changes constantly. The method that lays the foundation of this paper is partly an exposition of literature and also a text analysis of two historical sources consisting of a government bill from 1924, prop. 1924:150, and one of the States official reports from 1997, SOU 1997:116. Through this text analysis emerges both similarities and differences between the society’s views on the best interest of the child. The statement is that the conceptions of what the best interest of the child mean have changed since the beginning of the twentieth century. The development of the best interest of the child is connected to many factors such as the view of the child, existing culture, norms, values, knowledge, economy, political ideas, reforms and gender conceptions. The conclusion is that grown-ups tried to fulfil what was best for the children even in the beginning of the twentieth century, but the conception had a different meaning at the time. Therefore the conclusion is that the best interest of the child has been, is and will be a conception in change.

The child perspective is a complex area primarily because of its many ways of interpretation but also because children are considered to be less competent than adults. Our hypothesis was that adults in court-proceedings make decisions in the child’s place. The aim of this study was to investigate the judicial meaning of the child perspective in “Socialtjänstlagen” (SoL) and “lag om särskilda bestämmelser om vård av unga” (LVU). The purpose was also to explore how the child perspective was presented in rulings from the Public Court according to LVU 3§, in the prerequisite “annat socialt nedbrytande beteende”. The choice of method was based on our main purpose and therefore the legal dogmatic and the qualitative methods were applied. The child perspective in Swedish legislation emphasizes the child’s best interest and the child’s right to be heard. There have been problems recognizing children’s legitimate interests which are one of the reasons why adults are considered to protect those interests by speaking for the child although they may have different interests. The result was that the child’s voice was inadequately asserted in legal processes which indicated that the child perspective wasn’t used as intended according to the law and government bill.

Sammanfattning Vi har gjort en kritisk diskursanalys av AC:s (Adoptionscentrum) medlemstidning under perioderna; 1975-1985, 1986-1996, 1997-2006. Frågeställningen lyder: Hur konstitueras diskursen om ”det goda adoptivföräldraskapet” genom AC:s medlemstidning? Vilka är möjlighetsvillkoren och vilka konsekvenser innebär diskursen? Vårt syfte har varit att förstå diskursen om ”det goda adoptivföräldraskapet”. Vi har utgått ifrån socialkonstruktioniskt, poststrukturalistiskt perspektiv och språkfilosofi. Vårt huvudsakliga resultat har visat sig vara att AC konstituerar diskurser som producerar och reproducerar ett antal normativa föreställningar om föräldraskap, familj och individer som bygger på socialt konstruerade föreställningar om vad som är en ”riktig” familj, bra föräldraegenskaper och barnets bästa. Diskursen ”det goda adoptivföräldraskapet” uppnås genom aktivt medlemskap i adoptionsorganisationen AC. Begreppet ”barnets bästa” har visat sig vara en flytande signifikant för att konstituera olika diskurser som alla handlar om att etablera eller upprätthålla AC som organisation. Genom barnets bästa har AC fått möjlighet att legitimera sina egna verksamhetsområden, styra över vem som är lämplig förälder, vem som får bilda familj och vika barn som är tillgängliga för adoption. Ytterligare resultat har visat på att AC under perioden fått ökad makt genom att förmedlingen av adoptivbarn har övergått till adoptivorganisationerna. Således har statens makt och inflytande fördelats över ytterligare en instans. / Abstract This essay is a critical discourse analysis on AC’s (Adoption Centre Organisation, Sweden) magazine for members during three periods; 1975-1985, 1986-1996, 1997-2006. Our main question is how discursive statements are made on “the good adoptive parenthood” in this magazine? What possible changeable meanings and truths are given by the discourses? Our aim is to understand the discourse “the good adoptive parenthood”. The theoretical framework consists of knowledge of social constructivism, post structural perspective and philosophy of language. Our main results are that AC constitutes discourses that produce and reproduce a number of assumptions about parenthood, family and individuals as normative and influenced by social constructed assumptions about what is; a “real” family, a good parenthood or “the child’s best interest”. The discourse of “the good adoptive parenthood” is gained through membership in the adoption organisation AC. The claim of “the child’s best interest” has in this essay being found as a fluent significant to constitute a variety of discourses, which all aim to establish and maintain the organisation. Through the principle of “the child’s best interest”, AC has found a way to legitimate their own fields, to decide who is a suitable parent, who shall form a family, and which child will be available for adoption. Further result shows that AC during the studied period has gained increased legal and governmental power in the field of adoption. As a result, the governmental power and influence in the adoption field has been divided through additional authorities.

<p>I denna uppsats undersöks begreppet ”barnets bästa” med utgångspunkten att granska vilka olika föreställningar som finns och har funnits kring vad detta innebär. Detta begrepp är inte nytt för vår tid, men det har debatterats mer efter tillkomsten av Förenta Nationernas konvention om barnets rättigheter som antogs 1989. Barnets bästa är dock en social konstruktion och innebörden av begreppet förändras därför ständigt.</p><p>Metoden som ligger till grund för denna uppsats är dels en genomgång av litteratur och dels en textanalys av två historiska källmaterial bestående av en proposition från 1924, prop. 1924:150, och en av statens offentliga utredningar från 1997, SOU 1997:116. Genom denna textanalys framkommer både likheter och skillnader mellan samhällets syn på barnets bästa.</p><p>Det kan konstateras att föreställningarna kring vad barnets bästa innebär har förändrats sedan början av 1900-talet. Utvecklingen av barnets bästa hänger samman med en mängd faktorer såsom synen på barn, rådande kultur, normer, värderingar, kunskap, ekonomi, politiska idéer, reformer och genusföreställningar. Slutsatsen är att vuxna såg till barnets bästa även i början av 1900-talet, men att begreppet då hade en annan innebörd. Därmed kan det konstateras att barnets bästa har varit, är och förblir ett begrepp i förändring.</p> / <p>In this paper the conception “the best interest of the child” examines with the starting-point to study which different ideas that exists and have existed about what this means. This conception is not new for today, but it has been debated more frequently after the creation of the United Nations Children’s Convention which was accepted in 1989. However, the best interest of the child is a social construction and therefore the meaning of the conception changes constantly.</p><p>The method that lays the foundation of this paper is partly an exposition of literature and also a text analysis of two historical sources consisting of a government bill from 1924, prop. 1924:150, and one of the States official reports from 1997, SOU 1997:116. Through this text analysis emerges both similarities and differences between the society’s views on the best interest of the child.</p><p>The statement is that the conceptions of what the best interest of the child mean have changed since the beginning of the twentieth century. The development of the best interest of the child is connected to many factors such as the view of the child, existing culture, norms, values, knowledge, economy, political ideas, reforms and gender conceptions. The conclusion is that grown-ups tried to fulfil what was best for the children even in the beginning of the twentieth century, but the conception had a different meaning at the time. Therefore the conclusion is that the best interest of the child has been, is and will be a conception in change.</p>

The aim of the study was to examine collaboration and professional perspectives on the best interest of the child in regards to working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Firstly, our result show that counselling is available for the unaccompanied children from case workers, staff, school counsellors and emergency psychiatric care. All of the participants in this study describe the need for long-term counselling for unaccompanied children, however, providing the long-term counselling is not the primary purpose of the organisations in question. Therefore an additional service-provider working with counselling is a necessity. Secondly, the study explores the participants’ professional perspectives on the best interest of the child. The participating professionals work with the best interest of the child in accordance with their level of education and professional role. At the same time, they stress the fact that time, resources and other factors have an influence on their ability to keep the best interest of the child in focus. Finally, the study addresses collaboration between the service providing organisations. Collaboration does exist, but the participants wish for a development and transparency in the collaboration in order to clarify the responsibilities of each organisation. / Studiens syfte var att undersöka samverkan och professionellas perspektiv på barnets bästa i arbetet med ensamkommande barn genom besvarandet av tre frågeställningar. Den första frågeställningen rör de möjligheter till psykosocialt stöd som finns för ensamkommande barn. Vårt resultat visar att möjligheter finns i form av stöd hos handläggare, personal och skolkurator samt BUPs akutmottagning. Verksamheternas primära syfte är dock inte långsiktigt behandlande stödsamtal, vilket är något som samtliga respondenter anser att många ensamkommande barn är i behov av. Det behövs alltså ytterligare en aktör vars syfte är att arbeta med psykosocialt stöd för dessa barn. Den andra frågeställningen undersöker hur respondenterna ser på begreppet barnets bästa utifrån sitt professionella perspektiv. Samtliga respondenter har uppgett att de arbetar efter bästa förmåga i relation till sin yrkesroll och utbildningsnivå. Respondenterna påtalar samtidigt att tid, resurser och andra omgivningsfaktorer påverkar deras möjligheter att arbeta för barnets bästa. Studiens sista frågeställning berör samverkan mellan de verksamheter som tagit del i studien. Resultatet belyser att samverkan mellan verksamheterna existerar, men att respondenterna önskar en utveckling och transparens i samverkan för att tydliggöra samtligas uppgifter.

The purpose of this qualitative sociological law study is to examine the relationship between the social services and civil court to apprehend if knowledge about the child's best interest is transfered from social workers to the legal system. This have been done by investigating civil court cases concerning custody transition from biological parents to foster parents according to 6 chapter 8 paragraph in the law of parenting, built upon the legal principle of the best interests of the child. Eight cases has been examined by using a method of qualitative text analysis and categorised into five primary categories and three concepts linked to sections of the law. The material has been analysed through a sociological law perspective, social constructionist theory and attachment theory. The study shows that a variety of factors interacts when it comes to determining what’s in the best interest of the child . Moreover, the civil court refers in all eight cases to social services assessments of the child's situation. This suggests that social services have an informal power position when it comes to decisions on custody transition in accordance with the child's best interests.