Meeting the PROMISE Barnahus Quality Standards is a journey that takes knowledge, innovation, and patience.

The PROMISE Barnahus Network enthusiastically supports progressively meeting the Standards, which are a set of ideals for the setup and operation of Barnahus, backed by legal and evidence-based support. Rarely – if ever – will a single location meet the Standards 100% perfectly. In some cases, this may be due to legal and practical restrictions. For others, they may simply have not gotten that far in the process yet.

That is to say: Falling short of the Standards is not a sign that children are not receiving top-notch assessments and interventions. Rather, it means there is still room for improvement, and opportunities to influence law and policy. And for the Network, it’s an opportunity to exchange among the membership on common challenges, and to find tailor-made ways to support members in meeting special challenges.

To support the ‘knowledge’ piece of the puzzle, in 2020 we mapped the Barnahus practice in Europe. Read some of the findings below, paired with what the PROMISE Barnahus Quality Standards has to say – or doesn’t say – about each data point.

The mapping is still open for those who have not yet responded or would like to update their responses. The survey is open to any Barnahus or similar setup regardless of membership status. Read more >

PROMISE Barnahus Network members! You have access to find out more about these and the other questions covered, upon request and with reference to the specific question(s) you want to learn more about. Contact us to learn more.

Out of 17 Barnahus, more than half have social welfare / child protection as the lead agency.

Did you know! The Barnahus Quality Standards does not take a position on which professional type is the preferred lead agency. It depends on the national context and the individual journey each country takes to establish.

Barnahus report seeing at least 2 types of violence – sexual violence, and one or more of the following, in order of frequency: online sexual abuse, physical violence, trafficking and exploitation, genital mutilation, psychological violence, witnesses of domestic violence, violence with honour motives, bullying and peer violence.

Did you know! Barnahus Quality Standard 3 says: All children who are victims and/or witnesses of violence regardless of the form of violence have equal access to the service and are offered a multidisciplinary response.

Want to learn more about how Barnahus address online sexual abuse in their practice? We’ll soon be publishing a mapping of exactly this. Just waiting for some final details to arrive in our inbox. Stay tuned …

Out of 14 Barnahus, 7 said the forensic interview is conducted by psychological staff. 5 said it is conducted by police or judges. 2 said it can be either, depending on the circumstance of the case.

Did you know! The Barnahus Quality Standards does not take a position on which professional type is the preferred forensic interviewer. It depends on the national context and the individual journey each country takes to establish.

Out of 16 Barnahus, all but one said the forensic interview at Barnahus feeds into a police investigation. Other processes in order of frequency: child protection, therapy, prosecution, court hearing, medical treatment.

Did you know! The Barnahus Quality Standards say that recorded forensic interviews at Barnahus should feed into the full multidisciplinary response, including the criminal investigation, prosecution, cross-examination and court hearing.

Out of 12 Barnahus, most said they offer at least a top-to-toe or forensic medical examination. Others refer to specialised medical services nearby.

Did you know! The Barnahus Quality standards say that medical treatment is carried out in the Barnahus premises – unless in urgent or complicated cases requiring specialised or hospital care.

Want to learn more about how Barnahus integrate medical evaluations and treatment into their practice? We’ll soon be publishing a mapping of exactly this. Just waiting for some final details to arrive in our inbox. Stay tuned …

Out of 16 Barnahus, most are providing long-term therapeutic interventions (that is to say, without referring them to another service).

Did you know! The Barnahus Quality Standards say that if needed, children are offered short-term and long-term treatment, and that long-term therapy may be provided via referral.