Children and young people’s daily lives, health and quality of life are affected when someone in the family experiences health problems or dies.
Work with children as next of kin refers to the tasks carried out by health services and municipalities to meet children’s need for information and necessary follow-up. This involves finding out whether patients have children or siblings, assessing the children’s situation and needs, offering follow-up and facilitating support in everyday life. The work also involves close cooperation with family, school, kindergarten and other support services to ensure that the child receives the support they need. Work with children as next of kin is early intervention. It is an opportunity to identify significant events early and help children cope with everyday life and what they are experiencing.
Children as next of kin
Children and young people (aged 0–18) are next of kin when their parents or siblings experience health problems or die. The terms parents and siblings are interpreted broadly and include, for example, stepparents, foster parents, adoptive parents and equivalent siblings.
Health problems may include mental illness, addiction, or serious physical illness or injury. They may also include disabilities. Children and young people are also next of kin when people close to them die.
A large proportion of children and young people experience being next of kin at some point during their upbringing.
Children and young people are affected
Families are connected, for better or worse. When something happens to one person, it affects the others. Parents’ or siblings’ health problems or death affect children’s and young people’s thoughts, feelings and everyday lives.
The person with health problems is concerned about the children’s situation and their role as a parent or sibling. This can affect the person’s health and treatment.
Other adults in the family may feel that they have to care for both the children and the person with health problems. This is a challenging dual role.
Health problems are best managed when the whole family takes part in finding ways to cope with the situation.
The needs of children and young people
Children and young people who are next of kin have needs of their own. These needs vary depending on their personality, age and situation. However, some needs are common.
Children want to understand what has happened
Children want to understand what is happening to the person with health problems, to themselves and their family, and to their everyday lives. The same is true of bereaved children. This is why information is so important. Children and young people use information to develop the understanding they need to cope with the situation.
Children usually want to take part in what is happening
Children want to be present when information is shared, decisions are made or tasks are carried out. Participation gives children and young people the opportunity to contribute to family life on their own terms. It gives them a sense of belonging. Children also want their participation and understanding of the situation to be recognised.
