Mid Sweden University

The purpose of the study is to examine the situation for unaccompanied children with a failed search for asylum living in HVB-homes. The study is comparative and based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with four practitioners, each representing one HVB-home. The empirical results were analyzed through previous research, Swedish laws and the UN Convention on the rights of the Child. The results show there are no written guidelines, or routines when a child gets a rejection. The work with asylum seekers is solution-oriented and based on individual needs in the new situation that a rejection will lead to. The laws and rights surrounding the children provide a relative protection until they reach adulthood. The children are informed about rights concerning the process of asylum, living-and housing conditions. A trustful relation to the staff is important to handle asylum-rejections an depend on understanding the role between authorities. A failed asylum search can cause depressive symptoms, feelings of unfairness, shame and failure, and children disappearing from the HVB-home. Rejection of one child can affect the whole group of children. Maintaining routines and staying in school is important to cope with rejection. The article argues for new methods to prepare return, more organized information concerning rights and ways to make the status as a refugee not violate the rights of the child.