Barnahus Network
About us
The Barnahus Network is supporting Europe to adopt the Barnahus model as a standard practice for providing child victims and witnesses of violence rapid access to justice and care. We undertake this work to fulfil our vision: a Europe where all children enjoy their right to be protected from violence.
By bringing stakeholders together to share experiences and knowledge, and to jointly develop and commit to the Barnahus Quality Standards, the Network is accelerating progress across Europe in providing multidisciplinary services to child victims of violence.
This work is the result of a series of projects named “PROMISE”, under the leadership of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and in partnership with key Barnahus experts and stakeholders around Europe. The first PROMISE project (2015-2017), which brought together stakeholders together to share experiences and knowledge, and to jointly develop and commit to the Barnahus Quality Standards.
The work continued into the second PROMISE project (2017-2019), which promoted national level progress towards meeting the Standards.
The third project (2020-2022) established a European Competence Centre for Barnahus, laid the groundwork for an accreditation system for Barnahus, and expanded PROMISE activities to include University training and case management tools.
While the projects of PROMISE have been the main drivers for this work up until now, the work has graduated from the project level into something more.
About the Network
The Barnahus Network (formerly the PROMISE Barnahus Network) was established in 2019 to formalise the continuation of this work in the long term. This European approach supports the continuity of capacity-building, advocacy, and provision of Barnahus and similar services at the national level. Common frameworks in Europe enable a vibrant and constructive exchange on establishing and operating multidisciplinary interventions under one roof.
The Barnahus Network is a member-led organisation that works to harmonize and consolidate good Barnahus practice across Europe, and does so in support of and consultation with a competent and committed Barnahus workforce across Europe and an established peer-to-peer network.
A harmonisation of Barnahus practice across Europe serves to ensure quality Barnahus services, to boost the legitimacy of the approach, and ensure that all children in Europe have the same access to their rights to protection from violence, to support, and to be heard.
The Network’s activities support members to:
- Improve practice by having access to training, mentorship and practical tools, including University certified training in forensic interviews and therapy
- Gain recognition, and in the longer-term accreditation, for excellence in practice by having access to training, support, mentoring and tools to benchmark progress to practicing in line with the Barnahus standards
- Share expertise and learning and helping shape the European Barnahus Movement by having access to a broad network which actively engages in exchange and mutual learning
- Extend outreach and visibility by being part of a broad professional network, visibility in European social media and opportunities to meet other professionals from across Europe
- Explore funding opportunities by offering access to expertise and reliant partnerships
In addition to coursework and training, the Barnahus Network is also:
- Rolling out PROMISE Hub – a specialised case management software for Barnahus
- Establishing a professional network of Barnahus managers and social workers
- Regularly mapping existing Barnahus practice in Europe
- Engaging a working group on child participation to evaluate methodologies and tools to develop a participatory environment in Barnahus
- Reviewing the Barnahus Quality Standards, including a meaningful and safe child participation module
The network embraces a broad and diverse membership from across Europe and its near neighbourhood, drawing on existing and emerging partnerships with stakeholders from across Europe+ and across sectors. Together we are expanding the possibilities to support to all interested services and stakeholders, especially as new countries and services continually become engaged.
We seek services, organisations and individuals who fully embrace multi-disciplinary and interagency collaboration, promoting involvement and exchange from all relevant and interested sectors.
New membership applications are open on a rolling basis, with key deadlines announced via our newsletter.
About the Competence Centre
A key activity of the Network is establishing a European competence centre for Barnahus, and in doing so is building upon existing Network resources, trainings, and dialogues.
Activities include internationally recognised training in forensic interviewing, and university-level training in therapy.
Additional training modules cover topics on the EU legal context for Barnahus, establishing and working in multidisciplinary teams, practising interview and therapy skills with a child avatar before meeting children, and building a common understanding of child abuse across disciplines and countries.
Trainings on medical evaluation at the Barnahus have been delivered in previous projects, and routine coursework on this topic will soon be introduced in the competence centre.
For more information on current and future offerings of the Comptence Centre, see the chart below.
Membership
Become a Member
Improve practice
Have access to training, mentorship and practical tools, including University certified training in forensic interviews and therapy
Gain recognition
Gain accreditation by having access to training, support, mentoring and tools to benchmark progress.
Share expertise and learning
Help shape the European Barnahus Movement by having access to a broad network which actively engages in exchange and mutual learning
Extend outreach and visibility
Be a part of a broad professional network, visibility in European social media and opportunities to meet other professionals from across Europe
Member activities include:
- Training – in-house, self-training, European competence centre
- Practical tools and guidance
- Child participation
- Exchange and mutual support
- Peer support through mentorship and training of trainers
- Advocacy and awareness-raising at national and European level
- Exchange and support internationally
Data collection, evaluation and research to monitor impact
