Conditions and circumstances of pedagogical work with children and adolescents with developmental disturbances or mental disorder

The cost of child and adolescent psychiatry has in Denmark increased 5% and the number of patients increased from about 15000 to nearly 23000 over 3 years together with an increase in the number of outpatient treatment. At the same time we see a decrease in placement of children in residential care.
Changes in policy influence conditions for working with the target group, not only in residential care where relatively more children now have a diagnosis.
On the basis of key reports of policy and tendencies and of interdisciplinary challenges the article will emphasize suggestions of possible future team-work and the importance of the municipal authority for action planning and collaboration. The situation in and around the residential care institutions have been examined also through interviews with the expert group and employees in residential care during the RESME-project.
The article will, on basis of these approaches, underline and discuss some challenges for especially the social and pedagogical work during the ongoing changes which also will impact forming and planning (continuing) respective education.