Health and Me

Ishita Roy

'Biased' Danish Parenting Test Has Separated Babies From Their Mothers; Parents Are Now Fighting Back

<span>Parenting</span> test that ensures that individuals are ready to take responsibility of a child sounds good, until its turns into a trauma of lifetime, where not scoring enough or failing that test leads to separation of the child from his parents. So is the case of many parents in Denmark, who have to undergo this parental scrutiny. Keira, being one of them, had just given birth to her daughter last November, but she knew that she only had two hours before her newborn would be taken into care. 

She tells BBC, “Right when she came out, I started counting the minutes,” she recalls, adding that she couldn’t stop looking at the clock to see how long they had together. When the moment came, Keira says she sobbed uncontrollably, whispering “sorry” to her baby. “It felt like a part of my soul died”

She is a Greenlandic parent, among many, living in Denmark, who are now fighting to get their children back after they were removed by social services. In many of these cases, authorities have relied on the competency assessments, known as FKUs. This test determines where parents are fit to raise their children. 

<h2>What Is the Danish Parenting Competency Test?</h2>

The FKU, or “parenting competency test,” was a psychometric assessment used by Danish child protection authorities to evaluate whether parents were fit to raise their children. In theory, the test aimed to protect children by identifying families in crisis or parents unable to provide adequate care. In practice, however, it became a tool of controversy—especially when applied to Greenlandic families.

The test assessed parents in a series of areas, such as their responses to imagined scenarios, self-concept, physical and mental well-being, outlook on life, and plans for the future. Most importantly, it was based on Western conception of good parenthood and delivered in Danish, with minimal attention to Greenlandic language, customs, or kinship systems. This incompatibility resulted in regular misinterpretations of the capacity of Greenlandic parents and sometimes led to children being taken from their parents.

Greenlandic children have traditionally been disproportionately represented in Denmark's child welfare system. Approximately 7% of Greenland-born children and 5% of children who have at least one Greenlandic parent are placed out-of-home. That's in sharp contrast to only 1% of the general Danish child population.

<h2>"Not Civilized Enough To Act Like A Human Being"</h2>

These assessments, which were banned for use on Greenlandic families in May after decades of criticism, remain legal for Danish families. They often take months and involve cognitive exercises, personality testing, interviews, memory challenges, and general knowledge questions.

According to Keira, some of the questions she faced felt irrelevant and culturally disconnected. “Who is Mother Teresa?” and “How long does it take for the sun’s rays to reach the Earth?” were among the things she was asked. She also recalls being made to play with a doll and criticized for not making enough eye contact. Keira alleges a psychologist even told her the test was meant to determine “if you are civilized enough, if you can act like a human being”.

While defenders of FKUs say they offer an objective framework, critics argue the tests cannot reliably predict parenting ability and are designed around Danish cultural norms. They are administered in Danish, not Kalaallisut, Greenland’s primary language, something many say leads to miscommunication and unfair evaluations.

Greenlanders are Danish citizens, and thousands live on the mainland for work, education, and healthcare. Yet studies highlight stark disparities. Greenlandic parents in Denmark are 5.6 times more likely to have their children taken into care compared to Danish parents, according to the Danish Centre for Social Research.

The Danish government announced plans to review around 300 cases involving Greenlandic children, including those shaped by FKU results. But as of October, the BBC found only 10 cases involving the tests had been reviewed—and not a single child had been returned.

Keira’s own assessment concluded she lacked “sufficient parental competencies to care for the newborn independently”. Despite the ruling, she keeps cots in her home, along with baby clothes and framed photos of Zammi. She visits her daughter once a week, bringing flowers or traditional Greenlandic dishes—“just so a little part of her culture can be with her,” she says.

Unlike Keira, some parents will never see their cases reconsidered. Johanne and Ulrik, whose son was adopted in 2020, have been told their case will not be reopened. Johanne had undergone an FKU in 2019 that labelled her “narcissistic” and described her as having “mental retardation,” based on criteria then used by the WHO claims she rejects.

Their baby was also meant to be taken immediately after birth, but because he arrived prematurely on Boxing Day while social workers were on holiday, the couple spent 17 days with him. “It was the happiest time of my life as a father,” Ulrik says, describing those days of feeding, changing nappies, and helping Johanne pump milk.

When authorities eventually arrived, two social workers and two police officers, the couple begged them not to take their son. Johanne asked to breastfeed him one last time. Ulrik remembers dressing his child before handing him to foster parents: “I felt the most horrific heartbreak”.

The couple no longer have access to their son but hope to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Denmark’s social affairs minister told the BBC the government will not revisit adoption cases because each child is now with a “loving and caring family.”

Experts disagree sharply on the validity of FKUs. Former test administrator Isak Nellemann says the assessments “are very important, about the most important thing,” claiming that when results are poor, “in about 90% [of cases] they will lose their children”. He also argues that some components lack scientific validity.

However, Turi Frederiksen, a senior psychologist, told BBC that while imperfect, the tests remain “valuable, extensive psychological tools” and denies they are biased against Greenlanders.

<h2>Rare Union That Is The Only Ray Of Hope Of Childless Parents</h2>

Among the few who have successfully regained custody is Pilinguaq, whose daughter was returned more than four years after being placed into care. The mother still struggles to rebuild trust; even briefly leaving the room can cause her daughter to panic. “If I go to the bathroom and close the door, she will have a panic attack,” she told BBC.

Her two older children are expected to return home soon as well, decisions made by local authorities, not the national review.

Keira continues to prepare for Zammi’s first birthday by building a traditional Greenlandic sleigh decorated with a polar bear. Earlier this month she was informed that her daughter will not be coming home yet—but she refuses to give up.

“I will not stop fighting for my children,” she says. “If I don’t finish this fight, it will be my children’s fight in the future”.

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Parenting test that ensures that individuals are ready to take responsibility of a child sounds good, until its turns into a trauma of lifetime, where not scoring enough or failing that test leads to separation of the child from his parents. So is the case of many parents in Denmark, who have to undergo this parental scrutiny. Keira, being one of them, had just given birth to her daughter last November, but she knew that she only had two hours before her newborn would be taken into care. She tells BBC, “Right when she came out, I started counting the minutes,” she recalls, adding that she couldn’t stop looking at the clock to see how long they had together. When the moment came, Keira says she sobbed uncontrollably, whispering “sorry” to her baby. “It felt like a part of my soul died”She is a Greenlandic parent, among many, living in Denmark, who are now fighting to get their children back after they were removed by social services. In many of these cases, authorities have relied on the competency assessments, known as FKUs. This test determines where parents are fit to raise their children. What Is the Danish Parenting Competency Test?The FKU, or “parenting competency test,” was a psychometric assessment used by Danish child protection authorities to evaluate whether parents were fit to raise their children. In theory, the test aimed to protect children by identifying families in crisis or parents unable to provide adequate care. In practice, however, it became a tool of controversy—especially when applied to Greenlandic families.The test assessed parents in a series of areas, such as their responses to imagined scenarios, self-concept, physical and mental well-being, outlook on life, and plans for the future. Most importantly, it was based on Western conception of good parenthood and delivered in Danish, with minimal attention to Greenlandic language, customs, or kinship systems. This incompatibility resulted in regular misinterpretations of the capacity of Greenlandic parents and sometimes led to children being taken from their parents.Greenlandic children have traditionally been disproportionately represented in Denmark's child welfare system. Approximately 7% of Greenland-born children and 5% of children who have at least one Greenlandic parent are placed out-of-home. That's in sharp contrast to only 1% of the general Danish child population."Not Civilized Enough To Act Like A Human Being"These assessments, which were banned for use on Greenlandic families in May after decades of criticism, remain legal for Danish families. They often take months and involve cognitive exercises, personality testing, interviews, memory challenges, and general knowledge questions.According to Keira, some of the questions she faced felt irrelevant and culturally disconnected. “Who is Mother Teresa?” and “How long does it take for the sun’s rays to reach the Earth?” were among the things she was asked. She also recalls being made to play with a doll and criticized for not making enough eye contact. Keira alleges a psychologist even told her the test was meant to determine “if you are civilized enough, if you can act like a human being”.While defenders of FKUs say they offer an objective framework, critics argue the tests cannot reliably predict parenting ability and are designed around Danish cultural norms. They are administered in Danish, not Kalaallisut, Greenland’s primary language, something many say leads to miscommunication and unfair evaluations.A Disproportionate Impact Greenlanders are Danish citizens, and thousands live on the mainland for work, education, and healthcare. Yet studies highlight stark disparities. Greenlandic parents in Denmark are 5.6 times more likely to have their children taken into care compared to Danish parents, according to the Danish Centre for Social Research.The Danish government announced plans to review around 300 cases involving Greenlandic children, including those shaped by FKU results. But as of October, the BBC found only 10 cases involving the tests had been reviewed—and not a single child had been returned.Keira’s own assessment concluded she lacked “sufficient parental competencies to care for the newborn independently”. Despite the ruling, she keeps cots in her home, along with baby clothes and framed photos of Zammi. She visits her daughter once a week, bringing flowers or traditional Greenlandic dishes—“just so a little part of her culture can be with her,” she says.No Chance Of Reviewing The TestUnlike Keira, some parents will never see their cases reconsidered. Johanne and Ulrik, whose son was adopted in 2020, have been told their case will not be reopened. Johanne had undergone an FKU in 2019 that labelled her “narcissistic” and described her as having “mental retardation,” based on criteria then used by the WHO claims she rejects.Their baby was also meant to be taken immediately after birth, but because he arrived prematurely on Boxing Day while social workers were on holiday, the couple spent 17 days with him. “It was the happiest time of my life as a father,” Ulrik says, describing those days of feeding, changing nappies, and helping Johanne pump milk.When authorities eventually arrived, two social workers and two police officers, the couple begged them not to take their son. Johanne asked to breastfeed him one last time. Ulrik remembers dressing his child before handing him to foster parents: “I felt the most horrific heartbreak”.The couple no longer have access to their son but hope to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Denmark’s social affairs minister told the BBC the government will not revisit adoption cases because each child is now with a “loving and caring family.”Experts disagree sharply on the validity of FKUs. Former test administrator Isak Nellemann says the assessments “are very important, about the most important thing,” claiming that when results are poor, “in about 90% [of cases] they will lose their children”. He also argues that some components lack scientific validity.However, Turi Frederiksen, a senior psychologist, told BBC that while imperfect, the tests remain “valuable, extensive psychological tools” and denies they are biased against Greenlanders.Rare Union That Is The Only Ray Of Hope Of Childless ParentsAmong the few who have successfully regained custody is Pilinguaq, whose daughter was returned more than four years after being placed into care. The mother still struggles to rebuild trust; even briefly leaving the room can cause her daughter to panic. “If I go to the bathroom and close the door, she will have a panic attack,” she told BBC.Her two older children are expected to return home soon as well, decisions made by local authorities, not the national review.Keira continues to prepare for Zammi’s first birthday by building a traditional Greenlandic sleigh decorated with a polar bear. Earlier this month she was informed that her daughter will not be coming home yet—but she refuses to give up.“I will not stop fighting for my children,” she says. “If I don’t finish this fight, it will be my children’s fight in the future”.