Project on the KESB debate completed
An extensive media analysis shows how the work of the child and adult protection services (KESB) is perceived by the public and what impact public debates have on its day-to-day activities.
Since its launch in 2013, the child and adult protection services (KESB) organisation has had a persistently negative reputation among the Swiss population. Public interest had previously been very limited. Not long afterwards, however, a family tragedy resulting in the deaths of two children came under the spotlight in the 2015 Zurich elections. This contributed hugely to the debate surrounding the KESB.
The research team from the University of Bern shows that the KESB is still having to do a great deal of initial trust-building when it contacts its target groups, even though independent investigations of the institution have shown it to be doing good work.