Last weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, 2026, the Department of Children, Youth, Justice, and Gender Equality held a successful seminar with the country’s municipalities. The theme was “Initiatives in the area of foster care.” This is an important and challenging area where there is an urgent need for action.
The seminar focused on initiatives that can reduce the number of placements, improve the quality of care, and lower costs. The seminar was attended by mayors, politicians, and officials from all municipalities, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Naalakkersuisoq for Social Affairs, Labor Market, Families, and Home Affairs.
The seminar was based on Deloitte’s cost analysis of the foster care sector, which has been published on the Naalakkersuisut website. Against this backdrop, the participants jointly discussed the most significant challenges in the sector and worked together to develop possible solutions. The seminar resulted in a number of concrete proposals for action.
“We already have many good initiatives in the area of foster care, but I must note that they are not sufficient. That is why it is important to me that the municipalities are involved in a process where we can work together to move this area in a positive direction, and when it comes to changes in the municipalities’ daily work, I, as Naalakkersuisoq, find it important to hold seminars with the municipalities that strengthen these initiatives. This should benefit both children and families and ensure a stronger and more sustainable effort for service users in this area. I thank the municipalities for accepting the invitation and participating in the meeting. Now the initial work to strengthen the procedures can proceed effectively and in accordance with the rules,” says Naalakkersuisoq for Children, Youth, Justice, and Gender Equality, Mariane Paviasen Jensen.
The topic of the seminar and the work in the field of foster care is a heavy and difficult one. At the same time, it is important work, and this was clearly evident among all the participants.
“I would like to thank everyone for their participation. We have left the seminar with renewed energy for the work ahead. I look forward to developing these initiatives in continued collaboration with the municipalities so that our children and young people can enjoy better conditions,” said Naalakkersuisoq for Children, Youth, Justice, and Gender Equality, Mariane Paviasen Jensen.
