1. separated children in Austria
separated children in Austria
Lisa Wolfsegger
asylkoordination österreich

2. asylum applications (AT)
2012 – applications – = 10,23 % SC 2013 – applications – = 6,78 % SC 2014 – applications – = 8 % SC applications – = 10,59 % SC 2016 – until October – applications (4.076 = 10,94 % SC)

3. SC-asylum applications 2015

4. SC-countries of origin
2015
2016 – until October
citizenship
<14
14-18
total
Afghanistan
385
5.291
5.676
Syria
166
963
1.128
Iraq 56
303
359
Somalia 3
216
219
Nigeria -
208
Pakistan 2
184
186
Algeria 1
103
104
stateless 26 82
108
citizenship
<14
14-18
total
Afghanistan
275
2.236
2.511
Somalia 56
363
419
Pakistan 6
282
288
Nigeria -
203
Syria 19 99
118
Morocco 91
Algeria 88
Iraq 21 55 76

5. accommodation state province 3 categories for care
initial reception and approval procedure
Asylum procedure after approval procedure
SC / camp in 9 camps (600 SC)
smaller groups (8-40 SC) in ~ 130 camps
1:15 care = 1 care worker for 15 kids per week  2.5 h per child/week (security in the night)
1:10 care = 1 care worker for 10 24/7 kids per week  h per child/week (24h care)
Residence up to 6 month – no guardians, no decisions and no appropriate education
Age assessment
Residence during the procedure, guardians available, education possible
3 categories for care
Living unit, 1:10 care, maximum rate 95 € / day (4.000 SC)
Residential home, 1:15 care, maximum rate 63,5 € / day (700 SC)
Assisted living, 1:20 care maximum rate 40,5 € / day (100 SC)
compare: other out-of-home children in Austria: max. 8 per unit, day rate between €

6. Good practices
Child welfare assumes full responsibility for < 14 (higher rates, smaller units,…)
1 living unit (6 SC) offers psychological care (TG Penzing) – 230 € / day
Some provinces have SC focus groups at the BFA (authority which decides)
Guardian standards are different in each province – especially in western provinces (Tyrol, Vorarlberg) guardiance works well – including follow up care
Foster care is established in nearly all provinces – ~ 150 cp in are in foster care. (good practice in Vienna – KUI)
Legal representatives prepare and accompany asylum investigations
System for ‚godparents‘ in every province (organized by NGOs)

7. Main challenges
Age assessment: too early, made within minority age, takes month until the result, high risks, high costs (~ in 2015)
Unequal treatment asylum seeking SC and Austrian children
Differences in care (organised by the province)
Lacking offers for psychological therapy (~20 % need therapy)
Family reunification: long duration, 3 years waiting period with subsidiary protection, minority at point of decision, financial difficulties  ~ 10 % of all SC
No guardianship during approval procedure (legal counselling is offered)
Education: hard to find schools for those over 15
Immense problems when SC turn 18

8. Thank you for your attention