Hoping to meet the urgent needs of a sensitive group

There are plans that a varied service for children, young people, young people and families will be planned for prosperity in Mosfellsbær. The idea is that various institutions, self -employed experts and non -governmental organizations can be based in the area and that there will be even a treatment service that can meet the needs of children and families who are struggling with a variety of problems.

According to Harald Líndal Haraldsson, Chairman of the Board of Happy Happy Tune, a private institution for the benefit of children, young people and their families, aiming for the start of development in 2026

On a prosperous tune, formerly called Skálatún, services have been provided for people with disabilities since 1954, but until 2023 the area was run by the private institution Skálatún and IOGT in Iceland. Disabled people still have residence in the area, but in 2023 the changes were that both IOGT and the private institution stopped access to the service and Mosfellsbær took over it.

The state acquires everything in the end

For some time, discussions had been held between Mosfellsbaer and IOGT on measures on assets, liabilities and land rights after Mosfellsbær took over the service to the residents who are there.

« The result of these negotiations was that there were agreements where IOGT has all the assets and debt related to them and land rights to the private institution that was created to keep track of this, but the condition is that the state will also have this agreement. to the state to build services for children and young people and their families, ”says Harald.

A new private institution, prosperity, then took over ownership and operation of the property, under the signs that services would be provided in the area for the benefit of children, young people and families.

Haraldur points out that a prosperity is about 6 hectares of land and that the special thing is that the service can be organized completely from scratch, based on the requirements today for services that meet the needs of children. However, it is clear that not all services for children and young people with a variety of problems can be provided in one and the same place.

Not expected a big treatment home

Happy Tune has been discussed in connection with a new treatment home that would be raised in Gardabaer, but that idea was not involved in the municipal authorities in Mosfellsbaer.

In e-mail communication between employees of the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Children’s and Family Agency and the State Property Agency over the past two years, discussing the status of the treatment home, it was stated that a decision had been made to build it further on the good fortune.

Such a treatment home, however, does not fall under the idea of ​​the activities that are expected to be successful. Treatment units that would rise there were further conceived as a residence center/for children with a variety of problems and treatment for children with milder problems.

A warm interface from the residents of Mosfellsbaer

Work on the area planning of the area is ongoing, but it is the EFLA and the cartoonist Stika who handle it in collaboration with the private institution and the parties that will possibly move to the area when it is structured.

In early December. An open population meeting was held in Mosfellsbaer on prosperity. The aim of the meeting was to inform residents and other stakeholders about the proposed activities and is being developed in the area.

« It was gratifying to attend this meeting and find the warm attitude of the residents of Mosfellsbaer to the project that was clearly stated at the meeting, » says Haraldur.

Haraldur Líndal Haraldsson is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Happy Gentle.

mbl.is/eythór Árnason

Talks with staff are over

« Recently, discussions have been held on the development of local government staff involved in these issues and the staff of the institutions that are ideas that could be there, » says Haraldur.

Among other things, there has been a discussion with the Children’s and Family Agency, the Center for Education and School Services and a Counseling and Research Center. Then the idea is that in the area some kind of light treatment service and even placement remedies will be raised. Also, there can be a seat of self -employed experts and non -governmental organizations, working for the benefit of children and young people.

There are also ideas for assuming apartment/for families of children from the countryside who need to attend services in the area.

Possibility opens with the service in the same place

However, Haraldur states that no formal decisions have been made on the structure.

« At this stage, this is all in the discussion.

« We see a great deal of synergies, where joint meeting facilities, cafeterias and staff can even be used on the same floor even though it does not belong to the same organization and thus the sharing of specialized staff is possible, » he adds.

Various possibilities open by having the service in the same place.

This gift IOGT will create equity in the company, which will be used in negotiations with credit institutions on loans for implementation. In addition, the calculation of rent to the state will not require a demand for return on the agency’s equity.

« We believe we can offer a lease/a with the state MA for the agencies mentioned here and even more. This is a non -profit company.

The goal is that rental rates are very competitive and that at the end of the lease period, the state acquires the relevant housing with the rights that it entails without further payments, ie. in excess of rent during the period, ”explains Harald.

Not the only place for children with a multifaceted problem

As previously stated, the idea is that various types of treatment will be in prosperity and refers Haraldur to several remedies that were made in the Steering Committee’s report on the arrangements for children with a multifaceted problem, which was delivered to the Minister of Education and Children’s Affairs in the fall of 2023.

None of the fourteen proposals presented in the report have come true and, as has been repeatedly reported, remedies are great when it comes to children’s issues with multifaceted problems. The lack of a variety of treatment measures has had a huge negative impact on this group of children and the child protection services of the country, as well as the Children’s Ombudsman, have called for action immediately.

« We are not assuming that in prosperity will be the only place where services for children with a variety of problems are available. Of course, it is important that it is MA in more parts of the country.

Although we have some ideas today, it is not necessarily that it will be the result. This all needs to be drawn together and discussed. Therefore, it is important that most people come to the table now so that it is ensured that it is successful, ”says Haraldur.

« We emphasize the lightness of the area and that there is sufficient space for activity, which is a very important part of therapeutic work. In the draft planning of the area that is currently available, there is a variety of entertainment that meets the interests of children and young people. »

Activities in the area after 3 to 5 years

The plan has been to complete a land plan this spring, but whether it will be revealed.

There will be some time in conversations and consultations, according to Harald. But if the sleeves are broken up, the dispute plan could be available in the fall and that it would be possible to prepare tender documents.

« Perhaps after a year, the auction could be well started. In the future, it can take two to three years to build. If we keep well on the tracks, there should be operations within three to five years, but it can be expected that it will take up to 10 years to build the whole area. »

The aim is to hold an open meeting with stakeholders and Haraldur encourages everyone who is interested in the project to participate in the conversation. Interested parties can make suggestions at the email address [email protected]

« There is a strong consensus among the people that a great deal of service to children, young people and families who are struggling with a variety of problems. Our hope is that a prosperity can become an important platform for meeting the urgent needs of this delicate group, » says Haraldur. «