[Participation of traumatized children and adolescents affected by provisional safeguards (removal and custody of children ace. to Para. 42 SGB VIII)_].

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes important variables of settings of children taken into state custody and records trauma exposure.

METHOD: 52 children and adolescents with e~periences of removal and custody were questioned online in the social network Facebook. Traumatic stressors before removal and custody were assessed as well as the reasons that lead .to removal and custody and the subsequent burdens.

RESULTS

In more than every other case the children and adolescents reported that they were not involved in important decisions during removal and custody. After termination of the removal and custody process, 50% did not want to return to their parents. Compared to children wanting to return to their parents, children who did not want to return home display signs of severe physical and emotional neglect as well as extreme physical abuse. Even though they have no desire to return, they are often sent back to their parents against their will.

CONCLUSIONS

Children who are removed and put in state custody should be included when deciding important questions. Whether or not they wish to return to their parents should be taken into consideration more strongly. Children who are sent back to theirparents against their will suffer from on going traumatization.