Securing children’s well-being when parent participates in peace-keeping forces abroad: the case of Sweden

It is recognised that effects of war can last for generations. There is also an idea that Sweden has stayed out of war for centuries. Increasing involvement in war and turning away from conscription to recruiting personnel on contract assignments have caused new patterns. Among these are the need for family involvement and support systems, including those directed towards the children of the military/veterans. In Sweden the families are not located in campus. Professional expertise is not readily available. Support is largely channelled through organisations serving the general population. Both experience and research in Sweden into this area is scattered. Scientific studies regarding families and especially children have just recently started. This research project started 2012 involving 31 families of Swedish soldiers participating in a contingent in the northern Afghanistan. A total of 116 respondents of which 16 are children have participated. Interviews using a dialogical systemic approach have been conducted prior to, during and after the deployment. The data analysis is in its preliminary stages. An action research approach is part and parcel of the project. This has produced a framework for professional skills education. A course “Social work with Veterans, Soldiers and their Children” (7,5 higher education credits, basic level, rate of study 25%) is given, the first of its kind in Sweden.