Foster children in Iceland face barriers to vital information access

Foster children in Iceland face significant barriers in accessing vital information due to recent changes in governmental data systems. Currently, between 500 and 600 children are in foster care in the country, but their interactions with public institutions have become increasingly complicated. A major issue stems from modifications made to Iceland’s National Registry at the beginning of 2023, which some argue were beneficial for certain groups but lacked the best interests of foster children in mind.

Foster parents are now unable to obtain crucial data on their foster children—including medication access, educational records, and digital service portals. Current child protection laws state that parental responsibilities should transfer to foster parents, and that guardians alone should have access to electronic services for foster children. However, this is not being implemented effectively.

Concerns have escalated as the Child and Family Agency has reported a lack of awareness among staff at the National Registry regarding these ramifications. The absence of coordination between government departments has made it unclear who will resolve these issues.

Foster parents have expressed frustration over their inability to access essential services, including medication, schooling, and identification documents for older children. Furthermore, many have reported feeling sidelined in the ongoing discussions about potential remedies, as no agency seems to prioritize a robust solution.

While the Child and Family Agency is working on addressing access issues, there remains a significant gap in the lawful sharing of information about children in foster care. Efforts involving privacy experts are underway to clarify whether current legal provisions allow for the distribution of essential information to ensure foster children’s needs are met effectively.