Pilot project on specialised divorce counselling extended
The Ministry of Social Affairs has decided to extend the 'Co-operation after Divorce' (SES) pilot project until June 2022. SES is, on the one hand, an online educational platform for parents going through a divorce, and on the other, specialised divorce counselling provided by local authority social services.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has decided to extend the pilot project. Cooperation after divorce (SES) until June 2022. SES is, on the one hand, an e-learning platform for parents going through a divorce and, on the other, specialised divorce counselling provided by local authority social services. The project is based on a Danish model, and its content is based on the latest knowledge, research by academics and the experience of professionals. Hafnarfjörður has offered separation counselling. since 1 June 2020, and a team of staff has specialised in the field.
A great team of professionals in family and child matters at the City of Hafnarfjörður who provide the service.
See the announcement on the website of the Cabinet Office.
An agreement for the implementation of a pilot project was signed at the beginning of 2020. The project was intended to run until the end of 2020, but due to the situation related to Covid-19, it was considered that there was not yet sufficient experience with the project in Iceland to allow for a realistic assessment of its usefulness. To date, the project has involved eight municipalities, but over the next year the aim is for SES to be made available to all parents going through a divorce in Iceland.
A course in 18 digital steps
The SES project in Iceland has been seen as a preparatory process for a possible future structure for divorce counselling at the first, second and third levels of service for parents and children in Iceland. The resource is very well aligned with the objectives of the ongoing legislative changes in favour of early intervention services for Icelandic children. In Cooperation after divorce Parents who are separating or ending a cohabiting relationship are given the opportunity to try a course in 18 digital modules. In addition, professionals from the social services of the local authorities participating in the project offer specialised individual counselling and courses specifically for divorced people who have children together. It is estimated that approximately 1,100–1,200 children a year nationwide are affected by their parents' divorce, or around 700 families with children per year.
See older news and project announcements on the website.