The National Agency for Children and Families
About Barnahús
The Barnahús Children's Center handles cases of children suspected of having been subjected to sexual abuse, physical violence or domestic violence. The Child Protective Services are responsible for handling such cases and can request the services of the Child Protective Services.
Barnahús was founded on November 1, 1998 and its goal was to establish cooperation between different professional bodies - child protection, police, courts and Landspítali hospital - when children are victims of violence. There is also cooperation with other professional groups that treat children. At Barnahús all involvement with the child is under one roof in a child-friendly environment. The goal is to ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and to provide knowledge on issues of children who are victims of violence.
Children and their parents can obtain all services in one place free of charge through the Child Protective Services. If a case is investigated by the police, the location of the hearing is determined by the judge. A judge may request that a hearing be held at the Barnahús Children's Center, and this is a closed hearing. Children between the ages of 15 and 18 give testimony to the police, except in exceptional cases, for example in cases of serious developmental disorder. In such cases, the courts may request a hearing at Barnahús.
The Child Protective Services may request other services from the Barnahús center, such as further questioning, diagnosis, treatment and medical examination. Questioning and hearings are subject to investigative interviews.