Jón Gnarr condemns inaction on care for children with complex needs

MP Jón Gnarr says families should not have to travel to Africa with their children to find help, and has condemned what he calls government inaction on care for children with complex needs. In a Facebook post reported by mbl.is, he said his patience with the lack of action was running out.

Gnarr said he had repeatedly highlighted what he called a stain on society: children being denied the treatment and services they are entitled to. He recently left the Viðreisn parliamentary group, citing, among other reasons, a lack of interest in children’s issues.

He said his proposal for a new treatment centre in Skagafjörður had been dismissed on the grounds that it was too far away. Gnarr said he had met with nearly everyone involved, including officials, ministers, frontline workers, police and parents, and had urged changes and suggested practical solutions. He said the Children’s Ombudsman and Guðmundur Fylkisson shared his concerns.

Gnarr argued that effective services would be both more successful and less expensive. He said the circumstances facing these children could devastate entire families, and pointed to the death of a 17-year-old boy in a fire at the Stuðlar treatment centre two years ago, while he was in the care of the authorities. The case is being investigated as negligent homicide, and 12 people have suspect status, he said.

Gnarr also said boys were the most urgent priority, arguing that long-term treatment options existed for girls but not for boys. He had proposed a treatment home at Háholt in Skagafjörður, but said he was told the location was too far away.