Danish parents pay thousands for private help as public child welfare services fail

Parents across Denmark are paying private consultants thousands of kroner to secure support for struggling children, as municipal services face collapsing under surging demand, DR reports.

Social jurist Linda Dandanell Klingenberg, based in Hinnerup near Aarhus, said her practice is overwhelmed by desperate parents whose children face prolonged school absences and untreated distress. “A few years ago, I could keep up with inquiries,” she said. “Now I receive more requests than I can handle.”

The crisis stems from exploding wait times in Denmark’s public PPR (Pedagogical Psychological Counselling) system, where families are legally entitled to assessments and support. In some municipalities, waits now stretch up to two years. National welfare research institute VIVE confirmed to DR that child welfare cases have surged, forcing more parents to seek costly private alternatives.

Sanna Bruun of Allerød spent over 20,000 kroner on a private advisor after her nine-year-old daughter’s severe anxiety and school refusal went unaddressed. “She lost basic skills—she couldn’t even put on her shoes after school,” Bruun said. Only after hiring outside help did the municipality approve a therapeutic school placement. “It’s deeply unjust that we had to pay for support we’re entitled to,” she added.

Private consultants typically assist with navigating bureaucracy, drafting appeals, and advocating in meetings with authorities. Thyge Tegtmejer, senior researcher at VIVE, warned the trend risks deepening inequality: “In a welfare system like ours, access to help should be equal.”

Patient advocacy groups Bedre Psykiatri and SIND, along with six private advisors interviewed by DR, confirmed the pattern. Official data shows 98,000 primary school students (19%) missed over 10 days in 2023/24, with 34,000 (7%) absent more than 15 days. Separately, 23.3% of students in grades 3, 6, and 9 were deemed to need special support.