Veronica Bergström

About me

I am a social worker with extensive professional experience in the field of children and youth, with a particular focus on two main areas. First, I have worked on the assessment and development of contact arrangements between children in care and their biological parents, with the goal of enhancing the children’s participation, highlighting their rights, and supporting their individual perspectives on the situation. Second, I have focused on supporting young people in risk groups for criminality, particularly those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. In this area, I have, among other things, led an integration project aimed at improving living conditions by strengthening the youths’ own resources, expanding their networks, ensuring meaningful leisure activities, and creating employment opportunities. Thanks to the positive outcomes of the project, the methods and approach have been permanently implemented in the organization.

In addition to my professional experience, I am currently completing a master’s degree in social work at Stockholm University, with an expected graduation in September 2024. At present, I am also employed as a research assistant at the Department of Social Work, where I am involved in the Forte project "Social Climate and Victimization in Institutions for Children and Youth: A Study of the Experiences of Institutionalized Youth," led by Emelie Shanks. The project aims to examine and analyze the experiences of young people in care regarding the social climate and victimization during their time at institutions. The study is based on a survey of approximately 300 young people placed in both open and secure institutions, complemented by fundamental data on the institutions and in-depth individual interviews with a selection of the youths.