Children-related costs
Extracts from the recommendations of the 2013 FOGE study
Dans son avant-propos de la Présidente du BFEG, mentionnait (le passage mis en gras est du fait de la fondation):
Il est à noter que tous les coûts occasionnés par la violence dans les relations de couple n’ont pas pu être calculés dans le cadre de cette recherche. Il manque en effet notamment les bases de données nécessaires pour déterminer les coûts des procédures judiciaires, les coûts des offres de soutien destinées aux enfants exposés à la violence conjugale, y compris les problèmes de santé qui découlent de cette violence. Or, il pourrait s’agir de montants non négligeables, car l’exposition à la violence a de vastes répercussions, qui peuvent durer toute une vie. Sans oublier que les enfants ainsi exposés encourent un risque très important de devenir à leur tour victimes ou auteur·e·s d’actes de violence à l’âge adulte.
Dans les conclusions et recommandations de cette étude, il ressort que:
Faute de données, nous n’avons pas pu calculer les coûts encourus dans certains domaines très importants, en particulier les charges des autorités de protection de l’enfant et de l’adulte, ainsi que les frais de soutien et de santé des enfants exposés à la violence.
Pour la protection de l’enfant et de l’adulte: Dans ce domaine, nous présumons que les coûts dus à la violence dans les relations de couple sont assez élevés, mais il n’existe pour ainsi dire pas de données à ce sujet.
› La statistique relative à la protection de l’enfant et de l’adulte (nouvelle statistique à partir de 2013)* devrait recenser aussi les données relatives aux mesures de protection de l’enfant en rapport avec la violence dans les relations de couple. Il faudrait pouvoir indiquer comme cause principale « violence domestique » ou « violence entre partenaires ». A ce jour, les seules mentions possibles sont « maltraitance », « conflits d’autonomie », « problèmes de droit de visite », « contribution d’entretien à régler », « problèmes d’éducation », « troubles du comportement » , « autres motifs » ou « pas encore déterminé ».Pour les offres de soutien et prise en charge médicale des enfants: Les données sur les enfants exposés à la violence conjugale sont insuffisantes.
› Il faudrait effectuer une recherche approfondie sur l’ampleur de l’exposition à la violence et son impact ainsi que sur les traitements médicaux et autres prestations de soutien dispensés à ces enfants. On pourrait en tirer des recommandations utiles pour la collecte de données à l’avenir.
*KidsToo n’a pas trouvé les données de cette nouvelle statistique.
Feasibility study
KidsToo commissioned Social Insight to carry out a feasibility study
Objectives
The study is available here (FR, DE).
International literature search:
– What international and national studies have been carried out on this topic? What are the conclusions of these studies?
– Where and in what areas are costs specific to children generated?
Examination of the situation in Switzerland:
– What is the situation in Switzerland from the point of view of a study on the costs of violence in couples focusing on children? What are the opportunities and difficulties? What interests are involved, who are the stakeholders and what are the strategic considerations?
– What are the forms of data collection relating to children in the various fields? What is the current quality and accessibility of data, and what statistics are available? Are there any exemplary studies/data files that provide a basis and knowledge for a cost study?
Conclusion in a nutshell
The feasibility study concludes thata cost study on the social costs of violence in relationships and in relation to children cannot be carried out on its own, i.e. on the basis of standard data and existing statistics from those involved in this field. Nevertheless, if we wish to carry out an initial cost study, we cannot avoid, at least in part, undertaking additional specific research and developing basic data for the necessary calculations; in other words, obtaining certain data by means of our own primary surveys and/or targeted secondary analyses. Whether in terms of numbers of cases or costs per case. As a result, the feasibility of a cost study implies that the investment in time and money for implementation is higher than if we could work with existing data/sets. On the other hand, a targeted selection and judicious delimitation of the problems and cost areas to be studied are necessary to keep the study within a manageable framework.
Possible variations
1) Retrospective study of the costs of real-time interventions by specialist services.
The quantities and costs are relatively easy for these services to understand; a willingness to cooperate can often be expected; extrapolations for the whole of Switzerland are possible to a certain extent; the cost items that can be calculated are those relating to short-term expenditure.
2) Exemplary cost calculations based on specific cases.
For this work, which also uses a qualitative methodology, it is essential to ensure good cooperation with the data collection services; for example, two to four cases (or more) per age group (infants, middle-aged and older children; ‘simple’ and ‘serious’ cases).
3) Prospective research: occurrence and costs in different fields of intervention.
A costly study, as a large number of baselines (in various fields) need to be developed for the survey; the study could uncover a great deal of new knowledge for the field of child-related costs; it needs to be assessed whether this is worthwhile or whether the political route should take precedence, i.e. that in future the relevant services should be obliged to collect data via the policy. During the interviews, it was also suggested that the subject should be extended to all forms of endangerment of children’s well-being (in addition to the co-incidence of parental violence within the couple, psychological violence, physical violence, neglect and sexual violence should also be included).
4) Cost estimates based on health prevalence studies (top-down approach).
Some of the experts interviewed felt that the top-down approach was more relevant than the bottom-up proposals, which were also described as ‘pea-counting’. It is important to substantiate the assumptions of the top-down approach (number of people affected, type of loads, treatment costs) in discussions with experts, so that valid calculations can be made.
5) Micro-study: costs of access, regulation and enforcement.
According to the experts interviewed, this topic is necessary because major problems are often observed in the area of ‘access rights’ and considerable costs are generated; this is further exacerbated when violence in the parents’ relationship continues after separation.
6) Budgeting study.
A study using the budgeting approach would be a novelty in Switzerland; an expert drew our attention to this approach. According to our information, there are as yet no studies of this type in Europe, as the subject is more commonly addressed in the South. Such a study would therefore be an innovative approach.
The KidsToo Council has decided to carry out a study in line with the proposal on custody and visiting rights. This project is presented here.