LVUåtgärder

LVUåtgärder refers to interventions under the Swedish Law with Special Provisions for Care of Young Persons (Lag med särskilda vårdåtgärder om vård av unga, LVU). The law governs protective care for children and adolescents under 18 who are judged to be in need of care because their health or development is at risk. LVUåtgärder are designed to safeguard the young person when voluntary measures or ordinary social support are deemed insufficient.

Grounds for LVUåtgärder include situations of neglect, abuse, harmful home environments, or other factors that jeopardize the child’s safety or development. The aim is to provide care and supervision that promote the young person’s health, safety, and long-term development. LVUåtgärder are not routine welfare measures; they are protective and can be coercive if necessary, always with the child’s best interests as the central consideration.

Types of measures typically associated with LVU include placement outside the home in foster care or residential care, as well as care arrangements designed to protect and support the young person. In practice, the authorities may combine placement with a structured care plan, including education, health care, and counseling. The law requires regular reviews and a clearly defined time frame for each measure, with the possibility of adjustment or termination when goals are met.

Guardians and the young person have rights within LVU procedures, including information, participation in planning, and the right to appeal decisions. The process is overseen to ensure proportionality, consent when possible, and the child’s right to humane, appropriate care. LVUåtgärder are intended to secure safety while supporting the child’s development toward independent, stable living.