Prevention instead of reaction
Insights|July 3, 2026
Many of the challenges affecting children develop gradually over time. At House of Many Voices in Almedalen, speakers emphasized the importance of identifying patterns early and shifting from reactive responses to preventive approaches.
Across discussions on education, health and social outcomes, a consistent theme emerged: problems rarely appear without warning. Instead, they follow recognizable patterns, often visible long before they escalate.
“We have seen it many times – we knew already then that this would not go well,” said Michel Lancha, Deputy Chief of the Södertälje Local Police District, during the presentation of the Rätt Kurva collaboration program, together with Beredskapslyftet Södertälje’s social services.
Despite this, systems tend to intervene late. This creates a persistent gap between what is known and what is done.
Several sessions highlighted the effectiveness of early intervention models that bring together multiple actors. Schools, social services, police, civil society and families all contribute to the same outcome, but too often operate in silos.
Michel Lancha“No one can do this alone – we need to work together around the child.”
A key insight was that effective prevention does not focus solely on the individual child. It involves the entire context: the family, school environment and social surroundings.
Trust also emerged as a critical component. Without trust, early intervention is difficult to establish. Families need to experience systems as supportive and accessible, rather than distant and reactive.
Importantly, prevention is not only about mitigating risk. It is about creating alternatives – stable environments, relationships, and opportunities that enable positive development.
The core takeaway is straightforward: acting earlier is both more effective and more sustainable than responding after problems have already taken hold.
Read more:
Societal challenges in focus at House of Many Voices in Almedalen 2026
Every child’s right to a strong start
When systems shape outcomes
The role of collaboration and solutions on the ground
A changing childhood