Drei Kinderschutzsysteme in Bewegung: Finnland, die Schweiz und Deutschland

The text provides a comparative overview of the child protection systems in Finland, Switzerland and Germany, examining their similarities, differences, and ongoing trends. Drawing from articles featured in a focus section of Sozial Extra, it highlights that these systems are dynamic and evolving—in motion: In all three countries examined, child protection systems are being actively reformed in order to achieve improvements. There is a growing emphasis on children’s rights and young people in child protection, including support for care leavers. At the same time, there are still gaps in research in many areas, for example in risk assessment and decision-making, but also in the collection of basic empirical data. The comparison underscores how strongly child protection is shaped by the welfare state, institutional structures and legal frameworks, which should also be taken into account in efforts to improve the respective systems. Simultaneously, the international comparison offers insights into alternative approaches to conceptualizing and organizing child protection.