Economic vulnerability as a risk for youth crime – an organizational vacuum : A qualitative study on the social services unit for financial assistance work with youth crime

This study aims to understand how social workers within the social services unit for financial assistance interpret their role in working with families where youths are at risk of falling into criminal activity, as well as what opportunities and needs they identify for the development of this work. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, based on interviews with six social workers employed within the financial assistance unit. The results show that social workers do not perceive themselves as having a clearly defined role in working with youth who are at risk of criminal involvement related to economic vulnerability, despite experiencing a need for such work. In order to engage in more preventive work, the participants express a lack of resources and a need for increased knowledge development in youth-related issues. The study indicates that the organization of social services, characterized by problem-based specialization, contributes to an organizational vacuum in the work with young people growing up in economically vulnerable families. The conclusion is that there is a need to further develop the role of financial assistance services in preventive work with at-risk youth, which requires organizational changes, increased resources, and strengthened professional competence in this area.