Residential care in Norway

Abstract

This paper provides a background to residential care in Norway and discusses the present state of Norwegian research in the field. The status and role of residential care are explored in light of the fact that the family perspective has traditionally been the most prevalent ideology in Norwegian social policy and child welfare. Attention is given to the meaning of 'care' and to the consequences of a lack of definition of care with respect to the status of residential care on the care continuum. The author defends the position that foster care and residential care are complementary rather than hierarchically better or worse. Finally, suggestions for improvement in residential care are offered.