- E-mailMarit.Skivenes@uib.no
- Phone+47 55 58 25 87+47 959 24 979
- Visitor AddressChristiesgt. 17Bergen
- Postal AddressPostboks 78025020 BERGEN
Skivenes is recognised as a leading expert in the field of child protection systems, with numerous publications in well-regarded journals. She is also a popular lecturer at home and abroad, and a widely used expert by the media.
If you wish to be affiliated with the research centre, please contact professor Skivenes. Other inquiries should be directed to research assistant Amy McEwan-Strand.
- Follow Marit Skivenes on Academia, ResearchGate and LinkedIn.
Biography
Skivenes completed her PhD in Political Science at the University of Bergen in 2002. Post PhD, she worked two years as a researcher at the research institute "Fafo" in Oslo.
Later she spent three years at the Centre for Child Welfare at the Faculty of Psychology (UiB), as associate professor and head of the Centre. She then continued to work three years at the Department of Social Education at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), first as associate professor and later as a professor.
Marit Skivenes is a professor at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory (University of Bergen), appointed in 2012.
Research interests
Theoretical focus:
- Argumentation Theory - Deliberative Democracy - Discretion and decision-making in Organizations - Freedom of Speech - Paternalism and Welfare - Political Theory - Quality of Public Administration.
Empirical research themes:
- Access to public information, Children's Interests, Child Protection Systems, Child Rights, Decision-Making Proceedings, Migration, Public Debate, Public Policy formation, Transparency, Welfare State Systems, Whistle-Blowing, Wrongdoing in Organizations.
Please examine professor Skivenes projects and publications for elaborations about her research.
Awards and grants
Marit Skivenes was awarded the prestigous ERC Consolidator Grant in 2016 for her research project DISCRETION. Read more about this here.
Marit Skivenes and Katrin Kriz were awarded the ISW prize for best article published in 2015 with the article "Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives".
Select publications
- Magnussen, Anne-Mette; Skivenes, Marit. 2015. The child´s opinion and position in care order proceedings: an analysis of judiciary discretion in the county boards decision-making. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 23: 705-723. doi: 10.1163/15718182-02304001
- Berrick, Jill Duerr; Dickens, Jonathan; Pösö, Tarja; Skivenes, Marit. 2015. Children's involvement in care order decision-making: A cross-country analysis. International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect. 49: 128-141. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.07.001
- Skivenes, Marit. 2015. Handlingsrommet for barns deltagelse i barnevernssaker. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 18: 48-60.
- Skivenes, Marit; Kriz, Katrin. 2015. Child welfare workers’ perceptions of children’s participation: a comparative study of England, Norway and the United States (California). Child & Family Social Work. doi: DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12224
- Skivenes, Marit; Skramstad, Heidi. 2015. Child welfare workers' views of fathers in risk assessment and planned interventions, a comparison between English and Norwegian workers. Child & Family Social Work. 22: 203-212. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12220
- Skivenes, Marit; Trygstad, Sissel Charlotte. 2015. Explaining whistle blowing processes in the Norwegian labour market: Between individual power resources and institutional arrangement. Economic and Industrial Democracy. 38: 119-143. Publisert 2015-01-29. doi: 10.1177/0143831X14559783
- Berrick, Jill Duerr; Peckover, Sue; Pösö, Tarja; Skivenes, Marit. 2015. The formalized framework for decision-making in child protection care orders: A cross-country analysis. Journal of European Social Policy. 25: 366-378. doi: 10.1177/0958928715594540
- Skivenes, Marit; Skramstad, Heidi. 2015. The emotional dimension in risk assessment: a cross-country study of the perceptions of child welfare workers in England, Norway and California (United States). British Journal of Social Work. 45: 809-824. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bct177
- Skivenes, Marit; Stenberg, Hanne. 2013. Risk assessment and domestic violence - how do child welfare workers in three countries assess and substantiate the risk level for a 5-year-old girl? Child & Family Social Work. 20: 424-436. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12092
- Kriz, Katrin; Skivenes, Marit. 2015. Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives. International Social Work. 58: 75-87. doi: 10.1177/0020872812456052
- Berrick, Jill Duerr; Skivenes, Marit. 2012. Dimensions of high quality foster care: Parenting Plus. Children and youth services review. 34: 1956-1965. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.05.026
- Gilbert, N.; Parton, N.; Skivenes, Marit. 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 sider. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- Skivenes, Marit. 2010. Judging the best interests of children - rational reasoning or subjective presumptions? Acta Sociologica. 53: 339-353. doi: 10.1177/0001699310379142
- Archard, David; Skivenes, Marit. 2009. Balancing a Child’s Best Interest and a Child’s Views. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 17: 1-21. doi: 10.1163/157181808X358276
Selected publications
- 2015. The child´s opinion and position in care order proceedings: an analysis of judiciary discretion in the county boards decision-making. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 23: 705-723. doi: 10.1163/15718182-02304001
- 2015. Children's involvement in care order decision-making: A cross-country analysis. International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect. 49: 128-141. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.07.001
- 2015. Handlingsrommet for barns deltagelse i barnevernssaker. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 18: 48-60.
- 2015. Child welfare workers’ perceptions of children’s participation: a comparative study of England, Norway and the United States (California). Child & Family Social Work. doi: DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12224
- 2015. Child welfare workers' views of fathers in risk assessment and planned interventions, a comparison between English and Norwegian workers. Child & Family Social Work. 22: 203-212. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12220
- 2015. Explaining whistle blowing processes in the Norwegian labour market: Between individual power resources and institutional arrangement. Economic and Industrial Democracy. 38: 119-143. Published 2015-01-29. doi: 10.1177/0143831X14559783
- 2015. The formalized framework for decision-making in child protection care orders: A cross-country analysis. Journal of European Social Policy. 25: 366-378. doi: 10.1177/0958928715594540
- 2015. The emotional dimension in risk assessment: a cross-country study of the perceptions of child welfare workers in England, Norway and California (United States). British Journal of Social Work. 45: 809-824. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bct177
- 2013. Risk assessment and domestic violence - how do child welfare workers in three countries assess and substantiate the risk level for a 5-year-old girl? Child & Family Social Work. 20: 424-436. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12092
- 2015. Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives. International Social Work. 58: 75-87. doi: 10.1177/0020872812456052
- 2012. Dimensions of high quality foster care: Parenting Plus. Children and youth services review. 34: 1956-1965. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.05.026
- 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 pages. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- 2010. Judging the best interests of children - rational reasoning or subjective presumptions? Acta Sociologica. 53: 339-353. doi: 10.1177/0001699310379142
- 2009. Balancing a Child’s Best Interest and a Child’s Views. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 17: 1-21. doi: 10.1163/157181808X358276
Keynote speaker
- Plenary lecture at «Samling barnevernledere i Rogaland: Samarbeid med barn, unge og foreldre i barnevernets arbeid». Title: “Tid for barneperspektiver!” Sola; 2018-05-03.
- Key note speaker at the 3rd Annual International ERCPAMM Seminar “Research, social policy and action with migrant minors”, Title: «Children across borders: Rights and policies», Melilla, Spain; 2018-04-25 to 2018-04-27.
- Plenary lecture at «Fagkonferansen om kunnskap, fag og kompetanse i barnevernet». Title: “Nytenkning om faglighet og bruk av skjønn i barnevernet”, Oslo; 2018-02-13.
- Plenary lecture at the conference «Fra barnevern til helse, eldreomsorg, ungdom og kropp» arranged by Bergen Kommune. Title: «Nytenkende forskning på barns beste i barnevernet», Bergen; 2017-06-15.
- Key note speaker at the conference “Unaccompanied minors across borders: Main social and political issues for their protection”. Title: “Discrimination of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors”, Melilla, Spain; 2017-04-25
- Keynote speaker at the 8th ESFR Conference “Changing Family Relations – Gender and Generations”; 2016-08-31 – 2016-09-03. Dortmund, Germany.
- Keynote speaker at the Nordic Congress on Child Welfare; 2015-08-26 - 2015-08-28. Turku, Finland.
- Keynote speaker at the 25th Anniversary Conference of UNs Child Convention – "Protection of children against violence and sexual abuse"; 2014-11-10. Oslo, Norway.
- Plenary lecture at the 13th ISPCAN European Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect; 2013-09-15 – 2013 09-18. Dublin, Ireland.
- Plenary lecture at the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs’ conference “Oppvekstkonferansen 2012”; 2012-10-24. Oslo, Norway.
- Plenary lecture at UNIFEC Conference: "A Better Way to Protect ALL Children: The theory and practice of child protection systems"; 2012-11-13 – 2012-11-16. New Delhi, India
Recent presentations
- “Perceptions of risk, need, and neglect: A cross-country comparison”, presentation (Free paper) with Prof. Jill Duerr Berrick, Prof. Jonathan Dickens and Prof. Tarja Pösö at BASPCAN 10th International Congress, Warwick, Storbritannia; 2018-04-11.
- «Hvem sin rett til familieliv? Når barnevernet tar over omsorgen for babyer», presentation with Ida Benedicte Juhasz at «Forskningsfrokost: Hva vet vi om barnevernet?», Oslo; 2018-02-02.
- “International perspectives on children’s involvement in child protection court cases”, presentation with Prof. Jill Duerr Berrick and Prof. Jonathan Dickens at The 7th World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights, Dublin, Ireland; 2017-06-04.
- “Discretion, children’s and parents’ involvement in decision-making and the role of the court – key findings in a cross-country context”, presentation at International research seminar: “Legitimacy and Fallibility in Child Welfare”, Tampere, Finland; 2017-05-23.
- “How can we improve our understanding of the mechanisms in discretionary decision-making?”, presentation at Copenhagen Project Seminar organised by Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Klokkedal, Denmark, 2017-04-14
- “Child Welfare Policy & Practice in Norway: A child-centric approach”, presentation at “Reflections on International Comparative Child Welfare: What can we learn from other countries?”, Berkley, USA; 2017-02-24.
- “Er norsk barnevern dårligere enn andre lands barnevern?», presentation at Barnevernseminar «Hvordan fungerer barnevernet?» organised by Bergen Kommune, Bergen; 2017-01-31
- “Seminar om ny barnevernlov (NOU 2016:16)» organised by Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Bergen; 2017-01-18
Features in Major Norwegian Papers
- Skivenes, M. og Helland, H. (2019). "Barns rett til familieliv" (Children's right to family life, in Norwegian) 23 February 2019.
- Skivenes, M. (2018). "Hvem har mest innflytelse - Solberg eller NAV-konsulenten?" (Who has the most influence - the Prime Minister or the welfare officer, in Norwegian) 5 June 2018.
- Skivenes, M. (2016). ”Rettigheter som utfordrer” (Rights that challenge, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, December 1st 2016.
- Skivenes, M. (2009). ”Et ustabilt, utrygt liv” (An unstable, unsafe life, in Norwegian). Chronicle, Bergens Tidende, October 26th 2009.
- Skivenes, M. & Samsonsen, V. (2008). "Den ufullstendige historien om Jesper” (The incomplete story about Jesper, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, September 26th 2008.
- Skivenes, M. & Trygstad, S. (2006). “Varslere og frykt” (Whistleblowing and fear, in Norwegian). Dagbladet, November 18th 2006.
- Skivenes, M. & Hollekim, R. (2006). ”Når barn bestemmer hjemme” (When children decides at home, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, October 13th 2006.
- Skivenes, M. & Strandbu, A. (2005). ”Kan barn bestemme?” (Can children decide? In Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, October 7th 2005.
- Skivenes, M. & Trygstad, S. (2005). ”Når varslere skal vernes” (When whistleblowers are protected, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, April 1st 2005.
- Skivenes, M. & Trygstad, S.(2005). ”Lojale varslere – lojale overfor hvem?” (Loyal whistleblowers – Loyal to who? In Norwegian). LO Aktuelt, May 9th 2005.
- Skivenes, M. (2004). ”Trynetillegg eller god sosial kompetanse” (Individual skills or good social competence as a measurement for salary, In Norwegian). Dagbladet, February 16th 2004.
- Skivenes, M. & Gautun, H. (2003). ”Fysisk refselse av barn – et resultat av uvitenhet og utydelig lovgivning?” (Corporal punishment of children – a result of ignorance and unclear legislation? In Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, August 26th 2003.
- Skivenes, M. (2003). ”Det biologiske prinsipp i barnevernet” (The principle of biology in child welfare services, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, January 6th 2003
- Skivenes, M. (2001).”Lovlig hemmelighold i internasjonale saker” (Legal secrecy in international cases, in Norwegian). Aftenposten, December 28th 2001.
- Skivenes, M. & Myklebust, R.N. (2001). ”Nøkkelen til offentlighet”. (The key to governmental transparency, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, April 24th 2001.
- Skivenes, M. (2000). ”Vi trenger ny barnelov”. Kronikk i Bergens Tidende 24. oktober 2000.
- Skivenes, M. & Eriksen, E.O. (2000). ”Barnevern, vitenskap og politikk.” (Child welfare, Science and politics, in Norwegian). Dagbladet, November 13th 2000.
- Skivenes, M. & Eriksen, E.O. (1997), “Til barnas beste” (In the child’s best interest, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, February 6th 1997.
- Skivenes, M. & Eriksen, E.O. (1996) “Hvem skal ha omsorg for barnet?” (Who is supposed to have custody of the child? In Norwegian). Dagbladet, November 9th 1996.
Media coverage
- "Adopsjon gir bedre levevilkår" (Adoption provides better living conditions, in Norwegian). Forskning.no, 9 February 2019.
"Rundt 50 barn i året adopteres av fosterforeldre. Det er altfor få, ifølge ny rapport" (Around 50 children are adopted by their foster parents each year. The number is much too low, according to new report, in Norwegian). Aftenposten, 5 February 2019.
- «Hva skal til for at barnevernet tar et nyfødt barn fra mor?» (What are the requirements for the child protection services to remove a newborn child from its mother?, in Norwegian). Forskning.no, 7 February 2018.
- "Hatet mot barnevernet" (The hatred against child protection services, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, 3 June 2017.
- "Statens rolle overfor familien" (The government’s role in family life, in Norwegian). Dagen, 16 May 2017.
- "Forsker på omsorgsovertakelser" (Researching on child protection care orders, in Norwegian). Fontene, 15 February 2017.
- "Fikk 18 millioner kroner i stipend" (Received 18 million norwegian kroner in scholarship, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, 15 December 2016.
- "Pecha Kucha: Statlig overgrep eller barnevern" (Pecha Kucha: Governmental violation or protection of children? in Norwegian). Aftenposten, 7 December 2016
- TV2 Nyhetene (TV2 News, in Norwegian), March 12th 2016
- "Ny forskning om fosterhjemsplassering: – Barna blir ikke hørt" (New research on foster care placements: - Children are not heard, in Norwegian). NRK, 15 January 2016.
- "Fikk ingen oppfølging da barnevernet tok barna hennes" (Were not followed up after the child welfare services took her children, in Norwegian). NRK, 2 April 2014
- "Fylkesmannen åpner tilsyn i «Amalie»-saken" (The County Governor opens supervision in the case of "Amalie", in Norwegian). NRK, 18 November 2011.
- "Fokus på person og ikke på sak" (Focus is placed on the individual and not the case, in Norwegian). Aftenposten, 15 October 2011
- “Adopsjon best for barnet”. (Adoption in the best interest of the child, in Norwegian) NRK.no, 12 November 2009
- "Tolketull i barnevernet" (The problem of interpretation in the child welfare system, in Norwegian). Bergens tidende, 6 May 2009.
Student supervisor on bachelor, master and PhD levels
Prof. Skivenes is not accepting new students at the moment. Students who wish to be affiliated with any of her projects are welcome to send an email to marit.skivenes@uib.no.
PhD-students under supervision:
- Barbara Ruiken, projct (UiB): Understanding risk and protective factors in child's best interest decisions
- Hege B. Helland, project (UiB) : Adoption in child protection
- Audun Løvlie, project (UiB): Accepting Care Orders: Expertise as premise-provider
- Irene Aase Kvåle, project (HVL): Priorities in Child Protection and Health Services
- Ida B. Juhasz, prosjekt (UiB): Removals of new-borns in Norway and England
- Øyvind S. Tefre, prosjekt (UiB): Between public and private responsibility for children
- Line Sørsdal, prosjekt (UiB): Decision Making about best interests
Projects under supervision
- Inger Kristin Heggdalsvik, project (HVL): High-risk family conflicts
Master's students under supervision:
- Camilla Engebråten (UiB), Tanja Maria Gummedal (UiB), Silje Risa Helgesen (UiB), Ane Myklatun Krosness (UiB), Kristine Irene Opheim (UiB), Johanne Marie Sletten (UiB).
Courses
- AORG 325 Discretion and paternalism (Program coordinator since spring 2019)
- AORG 250 Bachelor’s Thesis (Program coordinator since autumn 2013)
- AORG 100 Introductory Course in Administration and Organization Theory (Program coordinator since autumn 2013)
- AORG 104 Political Theory and Democratic Governance (Program coordinatior, spring 2013)
If you would like receive information about new publications and projects from Marit Skivenes, please contact research assistant Amy McEwan-Strand.
- 2019. Right to Protection. 3, pages 107-135. In:
- 2019. Children’s Rights in Norway: An Implementation Paradox? Universitetsforlaget. 452 pages. ISBN: 9788215031422.
- 2019. Barns rett til familieliv. Dagbladet. 62-63. Published 2019-02-23.
- 2019. Mot et Barneperspektiv i Barnevernet: En studie av implementeringen av programmet Mitt Liv Barnevern. Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (UiB), Bergen. 53 pages.
- 2019. Introduction: Implementing Child Rights. 1, pages 15-41. In:
- 2019. Children’s Rights in Norway: An Implementation Paradox? Universitetsforlaget. 452 pages. ISBN: 9788215031422.
- 2019. Children’s Rights in Norway: An Implementation Paradox? Universitetsforlaget. 452 pages. ISBN: 9788215031422.
- 2019. Discriminating against children. Chapter 1, pages 1-22. In:
- 2019. Child Rights and International Discrimination Law: Implementing Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Routledge. 228 pages. ISBN: 9780367074630.
- 2019. Rapport: Adopsjon som barneverntiltak. Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, Bergen. 303 pages.
- 2019. Adopsjon som barneverntiltak. Fosterhjemskontakt : tidsskrift om fosterhjemsarbeid. 2019: 2-7.
- 2019. Child Rights and International Discrimination Law: Implementing Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Routledge. 228 pages. ISBN: 9780367074630.
- 2018. International Perspectives on Child-responsive Courts. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 26: 251-277. doi: 10.1163/15718182-02602011
- 2018. Barneperspektiv i fokus. 1, pages 14-19. In:
- 2018. Barnas barnevern. Trygt, nyttig og samarbeidende for barn. Universitetsforlaget. 224 pages. ISBN: 9788215030890.
- 2018. Hvem har mest innflytelse - Solberg eller Nav-konsulenten? Bergens Tidende. Published 2018-06-05.
- 2018. The Child’s Best Interest Principle across Child Protection Jurisdictions. 4, pages 59-88. In:
- 2018. Human Rights in Child Protection Implications for Professional Practice and Policy. Palgrave Macmillan. 258 pages. ISBN: 978-3-319-94799-0.
- 2018. Improving decision-making in care order proceedings: A multijurisdictional study of court decision-makers' viewpoints. Child & Family Social Work. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12600
- 2017. A Cross-Country Comparison of Child Welfare Systems and Workers' Responses to Children Appearing to be at Risk or in Need of Help. Child Abuse Review http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291099-0852. 26: 305-319. doi: 10.1002/car.2485
- 2017. Care order templates as institutional scripts in child protection: A cross-system analysis. Children and youth services review. 84: 40-47. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.017
- 2017. Social Workers and Independent Experts in Child Protection Decision Making: Messages from an Intercountry Comparative Study. British Journal of Social Work. 47: 1024-1042. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcw064
- 2017. Parents' involvement in care order decisions: a cross-country study of front-line practice. Child & Family Social Work. 22: 626-637. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12277
- 2017. The role and function of spokesperson in care order proceedings: A cross-country study in Finland and Norway. Children and youth services review. 74: 8-16. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.01.017
- 2017. Are there population biases against migrant children? An experimental analysis of attitudes towards corporal punishment in Austria, Norway and Spain. Children and youth services review. 85: 151-157. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.12.012
- 2017. Best Interest of the Child. 1, pages 469-470. In:
- 2017. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781483365831.
- 2017. Citizens' views in four jurisdictions on placement policies for maltreated children. Child & Family Social Work. 22: 1472-1479. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12369
- 2016. Time, institutional support, and quality of decision making in child protection: a cross-country analysis. Human service organizations, management, leadership & governance. 40: 451-468. Published 2016-04-14. doi: 10.1080/23303131.2016.1159637
- 2016. Erratum: Corrigendum to “Children's involvement in care order decision-making: A cross country analysis” (Child Abuse and Neglect (2015) 49 (128–141)(S0145213415002306)(10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.07.001)). International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect. 60: 77-77. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.10.002
- 2016. Removals of children by the child welfare system – variations and differences across countries. 10, pages 223-243. In:
- 2016. Child Welfare Removals by the State. A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision-Making Systems. Oxford University Press. 272 pages. ISBN: 9780190459567.
- 2016. Child welfare removals by the state – complex and controversial decisions. 1, pages 1-17. In:
- 2016. Child Welfare Removals by the State. A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision-Making Systems. Oxford University Press. 272 pages. ISBN: 9780190459567.
- 2016. Child Welfare Removals by the State. A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision-Making Systems. Oxford University Press. 272 pages. ISBN: 9780190459567.
- 2016. The population's confidence in the child protection system - A survey study of England, Finland, Norway and the United States (California). Social Policy & Administration. 51: 1330-1347. Published 2016-04-07. doi: 10.1111/spol.12226
- 2016. Child welfare workers’ experiences of obstacles in care order preparation: a cross-country comparison. European Journal of Social Work. 21: 100-113. Published 2016-11-18. doi: 10.1080/13691457.2016.1256868
- 2016. Kvalitet og legitimitet i barnevernets beslutninger. 2, pages 34-47. In:
- 2016. Beslutninger i barnevernet. Universitetsforlaget. 261 pages. ISBN: 978-82-15-02684-8.
- 2016. Book Review: International Perspectives and Empirical Findings on Child Participation: From Social Exclusion to Child-Inclusive Policies. Critical Social Policy. 36: 454-456.
- 2016. Rettigheter som utfordrer. Bergens Tidende. Published 2016-12-01.
- 2016. Norway - Child welfare decision-making in cases of removals of children. 3, pages 40-64. In:
- 2016. Child Welfare Removals by the State. A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision-Making Systems. Oxford University Press. 272 pages. ISBN: 9780190459567.
- 2016. Judicial discretion and the child's best interests: the European Court of Human Rights on adoptions in child protection cases. 20, pages 341-357. In:
- 2016. Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Cambridge University Press. 450 pages. ISBN: 9781107158252.
- 2016. Pathways to permanence in England and Norway: A critical analysis of documents and data. Children and youth services review. 67: 152-160. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.020
- 2016. Deliberative decision-making on the Norwegian County Social Welfare Board The experiences of expert and lay members. Journal of Public Child Welfare. 11: 108-132. doi: 10.1080/15548732.2016.1242447
- 2016. Improving the care order decision-making processes: viewpoints of child welfare workers in four countries. Human service organizations, management, leadership & governance. 40: 107-117. doi: 10.1080/23303131.2015.1123789
- 2016. Whistleblowing in local government: an empirical study of contact patterns and whistleblowing in 20 Norwegian municipalities. Scandinavian Political Studies. 39: 264-289. doi: 10.1111/1467-9477.12066
- 2015. Children's involvement in care order decision-making: A cross-country analysis. International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect. 49: 128-141. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.07.001
- 2015. The formalized framework for decision-making in child protection care orders: A cross-country analysis. Journal of European Social Policy. 25: 366-378. doi: 10.1177/0958928715594540
- 2015. Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives. International Social Work. 58: 75-87. doi: 10.1177/0020872812456052
- 2015. The child´s opinion and position in care order proceedings: an analysis of judiciary discretion in the county boards decision-making. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 23: 705-723. doi: 10.1163/15718182-02304001
- 2015. Handlingsrommet for barns deltagelse i barnevernssaker. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 18: 48-60.
- 2015. Child welfare workers’ perceptions of children’s participation: a comparative study of England, Norway and the United States (California). Child & Family Social Work. doi: DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12224
- 2015. The emotional dimension in risk assessment: a cross-country study of the perceptions of child welfare workers in England, Norway and California (United States). British Journal of Social Work. 45: 809-824. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bct177
- 2015. Child welfare workers' views of fathers in risk assessment and planned interventions, a comparison between English and Norwegian workers. Child & Family Social Work. 22: 203-212. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12220
- 2015. Explaining whistle blowing processes in the Norwegian labour market: Between individual power resources and institutional arrangement. Economic and Industrial Democracy. 38: 119-143. Published 2015-01-29. doi: 10.1177/0143831X14559783
- 2014. Child Welfare Systems and Migrant Children - A Cross Country Study of Policies and Practice. Oxford University Press. 310 pages. ISBN: 978-0-19-020529-4.
- 2014. Migrant Children and Child Welfare Systems: A Contested Challenge. Chapter 13, pages 263-279. In:
- 2014. Child Welfare Systems and Migrant Children - A Cross Country Study of Policies and Practice. Oxford University Press. 310 pages. ISBN: 978-0-19-020529-4.
- 2014. Child welfare systems and migrant families : an introduction. Chapter 1, pages 1-16. In:
- 2014. Child Welfare Systems and Migrant Children - A Cross Country Study of Policies and Practice. Oxford University Press. 310 pages. ISBN: 978-0-19-020529-4.
- 2014. Street-level policy aims of child welfare workers in England, Norway and the United States: An exploratory study. Children and youth services review. 40: 71-78. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.02.014
- 2014. Child protection systems within the Danish, Finnish and Norwegian welfare states-time for a child centric approach? European Journal of Social Work. 17: 475-490. doi: 10.1080/13691457.2013.829802
- 2014. Et grunnlag for debatt - anmeldelse av Knut Halvorsens bok "Fra ide til politikk for en godt samfunn". Fontene. 8. 53.
- 2014. How the Norwegian Child Welfare System Approaches Migrant Children. Chapter 3, pages 39-61. In:
- 2014. Child Welfare Systems and Migrant Children - A Cross Country Study of Policies and Practice. Oxford University Press. 310 pages. ISBN: 978-0-19-020529-4.
- 2014. Supermodellen Norge. Fontene. 5.
- 2014. Et tydelig mandat for å hjelpe barn. Fontene. 5.
- 2014. En studie av kommunale lederes vurdering av varsling om trakassering versus korrupsjon. Kapittel 6, pages 116-131. In:
- 2014. Å bekjempe et samfunnsonde. Om korrupsjon, varsling, granskning og organisasjonskultur. Gyldendal Akademisk. 276 pages. ISBN: 978-82-05-45696-9.
- 2014. Wrongdoing - definitions, identification and categorizations. Chapter 4, pages 95-114. In:
- 2014. International Handbook On Whistleblowing Research. Edward Elgar Publishing. 656 pages. ISBN: 9781781006788.
- 2013. Fostering in the welfare states of the US and Norway. Journal of European Social Policy. 23: 423-436. doi: 10.1177/0958928713507469
- 2013. Systemic differences in views on risk: A comparative case vignette study of risk assessment in England, Norway and the United States (California). Children and youth services review. 35: 1862-1870. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.09.001
- 2013. Flere barnevernsbarn må vurderes for adopsjon. Fosterhjemskontakt : tidsskrift om fosterhjemsarbeid.
- 2013. Risk assessment and domestic violence - how do child welfare workers in three countries assess and substantiate the risk level for a 5-year-old girl? Child & Family Social Work. 20: 424-436. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12092
- 2013. Is the type of misconduct decisive for the perceived legitimacy of whistleblowing? A study of municipal managers’ assessments of whistleblowing in cases of harassment and corruption. E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies. 2: 50-65.
- 2012. Dimensions of high quality foster care: Parenting Plus. Children and youth services review. 34: 1956-1965. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.05.026
- 2012. How child welfare workers perceive their work with undocumented immigrant families: An explorative study of challenges and coping strategies. Children and youth services review. 34: 790-797. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.004
- 2012. Child-centric or family focused? A study of child welfare workers’ perceptions of ethnic minority children in England and Norway. Child & Family Social Work. 17: 448-457. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2011.00802.x
- 2012. Adoption in the child welfare system - A cross-country analysis of child welfare workers' recommendations for or against adoption. Children and youth services review. 34: 2220-2228. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.07.013
- 2012. Åpenhet, ytringer og varsling. Gyldendal Akademisk. 175 pages. ISBN: 9788205381360.
- 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 pages. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- 2011. Introduction. Innledning, pages 3-13. In:
- 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 pages. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- 2011. Changing patterns of response and emerging orientations. Part IV, pages 243-257. In:
- 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 pages. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- 2011. How child welfare workers view their work with racial and ethnic minority families: The United States in contrast to England and Norway. Children and youth services review. 33: 1866-1874. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.05.005
- 2011. Norway: Toward A child centric perspective. Kapittel 8, pages 154-179. In:
- 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. 257 pages. ISBN: 9780199793358.
- 2010. Deciding best interests: general principles and the cases of Norway and the UK. Journal of Children's Services. 5: 43-54. doi: 10.5042/jcs.2010.0695
- 2010. Lost in Translation: How Child Welfare Workers in Norway and England Experience Language Difficulties when Working with Minority Ethnic Families. British Journal of Social Work. 40: 1353-1367. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcp036
- 2010. 'We have very different positions on some issues': how child welfare workers in Norway and England bridge cultural differences when communicating with ethnic minority families. European Journal of Social Work. 13: 3-18. doi: 10.1080/13691450903135626
- 2010. 'Knowing Our Society' and 'Fighting Against Prejudices': How Child Welfare Workers in Norway and England Perceive the Challenges of Minority Parents. British Journal of Social Work. 40: 2634-2651. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcq026
- 2010. Når barnevernet møter minoriteter. Fagbladet. 12. 40-41.
- 2010. Judging the best interests of children - rational reasoning or subjective presumptions? Acta Sociologica. 53: 339-353. doi: 10.1177/0001699310379142
- 2010. ”Knowing our society” and “fighting against prejudices”: How child welfare workers in Norway and England perceive the challenges of minority parents. British Journal of Social Work. 40: 2634-2651. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcq026
- 2010. Loyalty and whistleblowing in Norway: How roles comes into play. Kapittel 7, pages 91-109. In:
- 2010. A global approach to public interest disclosure: What can we learn from existing whistleblowing legislation and research? Edward Elgar Publishing. 179 pages. ISBN: 9781848448995.
- 2010. When whistle-blowing works: The Norwegian case. Human Relations. 63: 1071-1097. doi: 10.1177/0018726709353954
- 2009. Hearing the child. Child & Family Social Work. 14: 391-399. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00606.x
- 2009. Balancing a Child’s Best Interest and a Child’s Views. The International Journal of Children's Rights. 17: 1-21. doi: 10.1163/157181808X358276
- 2009. Et ustabilt, utrygt liv. Bergens Tidende.
- 2009. Kontakt med biologisk familie etter adopsjon i barnevernet - til barnets beste? Tidsskrift for familierett, arverett og barnevernrettslige spørsmål. 3. 135-154.
- 2009. Children as participants and service users in child welfare cases. Kapittel 4, pages 89-105. In:
- 2009. Human rights, dignity and autonomy in health care and social services: Nordic perspectives. Intersentia. 221 pages. ISBN: 978-90-5095-877-6.
- 2008. "Minister glemte barnevernet.". Fontene forskning. 13.
- 2008. Barn som lever med rusmisbruk i hjemmet. Barnehagefolk.
- 2008. "Den ufullstendige historien om Jesper". Bergens Tidende. Published 2008-09-26.
- 2008. En muldvarp i Siemens. Prosa - tidsskrift for skribenter. 3.
- 2008. New Public Managment og varsling. Tidsskriftet Politik. 11: 82-95.
- 2008. “New Public Management and Whistle Blowing.”. Tidsskriftet Politik. 11: 82-95.
- 2007. rett til medbestemmelse - også i fritiden. Magasinet Voksne for Barn. 5. 3 pages.
- 2007. Delt bosted for barn. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 10: 274-276.
- 2007. Når arbeidstakere varsler - og lederes håndtering. Kommunerevisoren. 62: 4-6.
- 2007. En utypisk varslers historie. Prosa - tidsskrift for skribenter. 13: 40-42.
- 2007. Varslere. Arbeidstakere som sier ifra. Gyldendal Akademisk. 201 pages. ISBN: 978-82-05-37686-1.
- 2007. Kommunale lederes håndtering av alvorlige kritikkverdige forhold. Fafo-notat, Oslo.
- 2006. Når barn bestemmer hjemme. Bergens Tidende. Published 2006-10-13.
- 2006. Mediation in child welfare cases. Rett på sak: Aktualitetsmagasin for domstolene. 4.
- 2006. A Child perspective and participation for children. Children, Youth and Environments. 16: 10-29.
- 2006. Varslere - Om arbeidstakere som sier ifra! Gyldendal Akademisk. 193 pages. ISBN: 978-82-05-35330-5.
- 2006. Varslere og frykt. Dagbladet. Published 2006-11-18.
- 2006. Destruktive kollektiver -til skrekk og advarsel for varsleren. kapittel. In:
- 2006. Individ og kollektiv: Debattbok om mangfold og fellesskap i individenes tidsalder. Gyldendal Akademisk. 303 pages. ISBN: 978-82-05-35750-1.
- 2006. Roller, kommunikasjon og ytringsklima. Fafo, Oslo. 46 pages.
- 2005. Forvaltning og politikk – om den nødvendige forbindelsen mellom brukermedvirkning og borgermedvirkning. kapittel 2, pages 34-48. In:
- 2005. Brukernes medvirkning! Universitetsforlaget. 194 pages. ISBN: 82-15-00614-0.
- 2005. Familieråd som deliberativ beslutningsmodell og behovet for et barneperspektiv. kapittel 7, pages 140-157. In:
- 2005. Brukernes medvirkning! Universitetsforlaget. 194 pages. ISBN: 82-15-00614-0.
- 2005. Lojale varslere – lojale overfor hvem? LO-aktuelt : organ for Landsorganisasjonen i Norge. Published 2005-05-01.
- 2005. Når arbeidstakere ytrer seg kritisk. En pilotstudie av et utvalg medarbeideres erfaringer med å varsle i utdannings- og pleie- og omsorgssektoren. Fafo notat, Oslo.
- 2005. Varsling i norsk arbeidsliv – Hva betyr det og hva vet vi? Forskningsstiftelsen Fafo, Oslo.
- 2005. Når varslere skal vernes. Bergens Tidende.
- 2005. Collaboration between service users and professionals: Legitimate decisions in child protection - a Norwegian model. Child & Family Social Work. 10: 9.
- 2005. Core Groups and Child Protection - a forum for collaboration and legitimate decision-making. Child & Family Social Work. 10.
- 2005. User participation and child protection. A structural framework for collaboration in core groups. 20. In:
- 2005. In the Best Interests of Children and Youth. International Perspectives. Leuven University Press. 20 pages.
- 2005. Brukermedvirkning i barnevernets ansvarsgrupper. 19. In:
- 2005. Brukernes medvirkning! Kvalitet og legitimitet i velferdstjenestene. Universitetsforlaget. 15 pages.
- 2005. User participation and child protection. chapter 9, pages 175-194. In:
- 2005. In the best interests of children and youth - international perspective. Leuven University Press. 268 pages. ISBN: 9058674894.
- 2005. Kan barn bestemme? Bergens Tidende. Published 2005-10-07.
- 2004. Sosial kompetanse i arbeidslivet : en studie av sosial kompetanse i praksis : sluttrapport 2004. STF38 A04902. SINTEF Teknologiledelse, Trondheim. 123 pages.
- 2004. Kritikkstandarder og lovgivning. Kritisk juss. 4.
- 2004. Trynetillegg eller god sosial kompetanse. Dagbladet. Published 2004-02-16.
- 2004. Omsorg for hele mennesket – En evaluering av kompetansehevingstiltak for Frelsesarmeens rusomsorgsarbeidere. Fafo notat 846, Oslo.
- 2004. Profesjonalisering og privatisering i barnevernsektoren - Problem eller potensial for LO? Fafo notat 10,, Oslo.
- 2004. Grensen mellom det private og det offentlige i barnevernet. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 1.
- 2004. Barn og familieråd. En analyse av det organisatoriske rammeverket for barns medvirkning i barnevernet. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 7: 213-228.
- 2003. Fysisk refselse av barn – et resultat av uvitenhet og utydelig lovgivning? Bergens Tidende. Published 2003-08-26.
- 2003. Når ble det riktig å slå barn? Bergens Tidende. Published 2003-08-23.
- 2003. Innlegg mot det biologiske prinsipp. Tidsskriftet Norges Barnevern. 1.
- 2003. Det biologiske prinsipp i barnevernet. Bergens Tidende. Published 2003-01-06.
- 2003. Biologi og barnets beste i barneverntjenesteloven. Retfærd. Nordisk Juridisk Tidsskrift. 3.
- 2003. Dokumentasjon av sosial kompetanse i arbeidslivet. Delrapport 1: Kartlegging av praksis i arbeidslivsprosjektene innenfor Realkompetanseprosjektet. A03904. SINTEF, Trondheim.
- 2002. Hva styrer forvaltningens offentlighetspraksis? Arkivråd. 3.
- 2002. Hvorfor hemmeligholde interne dokumenter? Arkivråd. 2.
- 2002. Lovgivning og legitimitet : en evaluering av lov om barneverntjenester av 1992 i et deliberativt perspektiv.
- 2001. Deliberasjon og demokrati.
- 2001. Deliberasjon og demokrati. LOS-rapport. R0112. LOS-senteret, Bergen.
- 2001. Forvaltning og offentlighet II. LOS-senter rapport R0113,, Bergen.
- 2001. Forvaltning og offentlighet I. LOS-senter rapport R0101, Bergen.
- 2001. Offentlig journal. Arkivråd. 4.
- 2001. Demokratisk beslutningsforberedelser. Nordisk Administrativt Tidsskrift. vol. 82.
- 2001. Forvaltningspolitikk og borgermedvirkning i politiske viljedannelse. LOS-senter Notat, Bergen.
- 2001. Lovlig hemmelighold i internasjonale saker. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). Published 2001-12-28.
- 2001. Forbindelsen mellom menings- og viljedannelse i sentralforvaltningens beslutningsforberedelser. kapittel. In:
- 2001. Deliberasjon og demokrati. LOS-rapport. R0112. LOS-senteret, Bergen.
- 2001. Forvaltning og offentlighet III. LOS-senter Rapport, Bergen.
- 2001. Nøkkelen til offentlighet. Bergens Tidende. Published 2001-04-24.
- 2000. Vi trenger ny barnelov. Bergens Tidende. Published 2000-10-24.
- 2000. Nye deltagelsesformer og demokratisk medvirkning. LOS-Senter rapport R0010,, Bergen.
- 1997. Legitimasjonsproblemer i barnevernet. LOS-notat 9705,, Bergen.
- 1997. Til barnas beste. Bergens Tidende. Published 1997-02-06.
- 1996. Penger, rett og politikk. LOS-Senter rapport,, Bergen.
- 1996. Hvem skal ha omsorg for barnet? Dagbladet. Published 1996-11-09.
More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)
Positions
- Head of the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism
- Chair of the research group DIPA (Discretion and Paternalism
- Co-director of CEIPAMM (Centro Europeo de Investigación. Políticas y Acción Para Los Menores y La Migración)
- Representative in the Faculty Board, 2017-2021 (as well as 2013-2017).
- Member of the Departments Council, 2017-2021 (as well as 2013-2017).
- Steering Committee member of Centre on Law and Social Transformation
- Steering Committee member of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementing Project (CRC-IP)
- Steering Committee member of the Inter-disciplinary Network for Research on Child Welfare Proceedings and Decision-Making
- Research leader of Child Rights Unit at Centre on Law and Social Transformation
The Pro Bono Group
The pro bono group conducts research on children's rights. Pro bono is a latin phrase for professional work and research undertaken voluntarily without payment and for the benefit of the public good. We believe that working for children and young individual’s rights is a particularly important social responsibility. Professor Marit Skivenes is the principal investigator and chair of the group.
In the Pro Bono group we are presently working with an evaluation of ”Mitt Liv” (My Life), which is a program developed by "Forandringsfabrikken" and "BarnevernsProffene". The program is to be implemented in man Norwegian Municipalities from 2016, and the ambition of the program is to change the way child welfare workers work and to change their values towards children so that the child is in the centre of all decisions made by the child welfare system.
- Read more about the Pro bono-grop
Volunteering
Do you wish to volunteer for the Pro bono group? Do you wish to volunteer for The Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism and/or the The Child Rights Unit at Centre on Law and Social Transformation?
Please contact professor Marit Skivenes.
ERC-grant: DISCRETION
Professor Marit Skivenes is awarded an European Research Council (ERC) Frontier Research Grant for the research project DISCRETION to consolidate her research ideas and thinking around core themes in social sciences about the governments use of power towards its citizens, and the justifications of state interventions into peoples lives. The ERC sole evaluation criterion is scientific excellence of researcher and research proposal.
The full title of the project is “Discretion and the child’s best interests in child protection”, and it aims to unlock the black box of discretionary decision-making in child protection cases by a comparative-empirical study of how discretionary decisions are made and justified in the best interests of the child.
There are huge research gaps in this important area of the welfare state, with a great deal of uncertainty concerning how, when and why discretionary decisions about the child’s best interests are different between decision- makers within and between child protection systems.
- Read more here: www.discretion.uib.no
Current projects:
- Principal investigator for the research project "Discretion and the Child's Best Interest" (University of Bergen). Funded by the European Research Council (Consolidator Grant). 2017-2021.
- Principal investigator for the research project "The Acceptability of Child Protection Interventions: A Cross-Country Analysis" (University of Bergen). Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (FRIHUMSAM). 2017-2021.
- Principal Investigator for the research project «Adoption as a Child Welfare Measure» (Adopsjon som et barneverntiltak, in Norwegian) (Marit Skivenes, Hege Helland, Øyvind Tefre), The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. 2016-2018.
- Principal Investigator for the PRO BONO group at the University of Bergen. 2016-2019.
- Member of the core group in the research project "Understanding Paternalism" together with Alexander Cappelen and Bertil Tungodden (The Choice Lab, Norwegian School of Economics). Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (FRIPRO)
- Research leader for the Child Rights Unit and steering comitee member at Centre on Law and Social Transformation.
- Volume co-author (togheter with Jill Berrick and Neil Gilbert) on "Handbook on Comparative Child Welfare Policy» as part of the Oxford University Press International Social Policy Library. 2016-2019.
- Book project: "Children´s participation in child protection - street level bureaucrats exercise of discretion" (Marit Skivenes, Katrin Kriz). 2016-2018.
Previous projects
- Principal investigator in the research project “Legitimacy and Fallibility in Child Welfare Services – A Cross-Country Study of Decision-Making” (Marit Skivenes, Tarja Pösö, Jill Berrick, Jonathan Dickens, Anne-Mette Magnussen, Line Sørsdal), The Norwegian Research Council (VAM) 2012- june 2017.*
- Organizer of the fourth "Colloquium on the United Nations Covention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project (CRC-IP)" together with Karl Harald Søvig. Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (VAM). April 2017.
- Principal Investigator for the research project “The Norwegian Child Welfare System in a Comparative Perspective" (Marit Skivenes, Katrin Kriz, Heidi Skramstad, Øyvind Tefre, Milfrid Tonheim), The Norwegian Research Council (FRISAM) 2010- may 2017.
- Book project: Co-editor (Together with Malcolm Langford and Karl Harald Søvig) "Measuring Child Rights in Norway". Universitetsforlaget. 2016-2017