Service costs for children with complex needs prompt calls for state responsibility in Iceland

The cost of providing services for children and young people with complex needs has become a significant burden for municipalities, prompting calls for the state to assume responsibility. A report from the Ministry of Social Affairs proposes that the government take charge of the most extensive and complex services for individuals with disabilities, particularly focusing on children and young adults facing various challenges.

The report evaluates the distribution of costs and responsibilities between the state and municipalities. It recommends that tertiary care for children with complex needs, as well as disabled adults requiring security supervision, be managed by the state. This comes amid concerns that young individuals with substantial nursing needs are increasingly being placed in nursing homes. Tertiary care represents the most intricate and extensive services available.

Currently, 13 individuals require security supervision after serving time in prison and completing treatment in psychiatric facilities. Additionally, the report advocates for providing third-tier services to disabled individuals with long-term and severe behavioral disorders—currently affecting 14 individuals.

Among children and youths facing various serious developmental and psychological disorders, 64 require extensive services. The needs for 34 of these children are particularly pronounced, demanding between 720 to over 1,440 hours of care per month. The average estimated annual cost for providing service to each child is approximately 97 million Icelandic króna, totaling around 3 billion króna for this group.

Last December, an agreement was reached between the state and municipalities to alter funding strategies for services aimed at individuals with disabilities, resulting in a 5.7 billion króna transfer to municipalities for 2024.