Collaboration and trust essential for children and youth to thrive

The agenda featured six presentations. The meeting opened with a discussion on government initiatives to prevent and address violence against and among children. Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir, an expert from the Ministry of Education and Children, outlined the action plan to combat violence among children. Drífa Jónasdóttir, a Ministry of Health expert, presented findings from a working group report on health services for child victims of violence.

Nordic countries stronger through collaboration

Last fall, Harpa hosted a major Nordic conference titled "Storbyens Hjerte og Smerte" (The Heart and Pain of the Big City). The biennial conference, rotating among Nordic cities, was deemed highly successful in Reykjavík. It emphasized developing and presenting proposals from youth, which they had prepared at an earlier conference that year. Conference organizers Ingibjörg Þ. Sigurþórsdóttir, Manager of East Center, and Haraldur Sigurðsson, Manager of Brúin, shared the event's key points at this morning's Welfare Coffee. They noted that the conference theme – Stronger Together – aligned well with its outcomes. Participants agreed that Nordic countries should take bolder steps toward collaboration to enhance the quality of life for children and youth.

The "Storbyens hjerte og smerte" magazine features interviews with key speakers and conference photos.

Prosperity initiatives lead to fewer Child Protection Services cases

Elísa Ragnheiður Ingólfsdóttir, manager of Reykjavík Child Protection Services, and Þyrí Halla Steingrímsdóttir, head of office, outlined the procedures for handling child-related violence cases. They reported a decrease in cases filed with Child Protection Services in 2024 compared to the previous year. It appears that the Prosperity Act and its integrated approach are successfully resolving issues before they escalate to require Child Protection Services involvement. This positive trend aligns with strategic goals. However, some cases handled by Child Protection Services remain highly complex. They are seeing more cases involving children with severe issues. For instance, children who engage in violence, carry weapons, and have repeatedly encountered legal problems. Increased collaboration, including with Community Police, is crucial for effectively addressing these challenging cases.

Enhancing youth self-confidence and social skills

Elí Hörpu- og Önundarson, Elí Hörpu- og Önundarson, a parenting and treatment counselor, YouthWorks (I. Unglingasmiðjur), a specialized Reykjavík City program for socially isolated teenagers. He noted that participants often share experiences of bullying or exclusion, and tend to be shy with limited engagement outside school. YouthWorks aims to foster trust, confidentiality, and respect in interactions, while creating a positive atmosphere and sense of belonging. He also described Youth Bridge (I. Unglingabrú), a similar program for secondary school-aged youth. These years often mark significant transitions for young people, making it crucial they have a familiar support system during this turbulent period.

Strengthening links between primary and secondary schools

Earlier this week, the City Council met with the Youth Council of Reykjavík and representatives from the city's youth councils. The young people presented various proposals aimed at improving youth life in the city. Youth representatives Bjarni Þór Jónsson and Magnea Þórey Guðlaugsdóttir, both members of the Árbær and Holt youth council, attended this morning's Welfare Coffee to present one of the proposals. They proposed finding ways to enhance cooperation between primary and secondary schools in Reykjavík for secondary school presentations. In their view, there's insufficient connection between these education levels, which they deem essential for students to make informed decisions about secondary education.

The Welfare Coffee was chaired by Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, chair of Reykjavík City's Welfare Council.

Today's meeting was well-attended, with nearly 50 people present and about 60 watching the livestream. A recording of the stream is available on the Department of Welfare's Facebook page.