Barnahus for adults? Reinterpreting the barnahus model to accommodate adult victims of domestic violence

Abstract

The key purpose of this chapter is to identify challenges in terms of reinterpreting the Barnahus model to accommodate adult victims of domestic violence. The analysis is based on data from the first part of an ongoing process evaluation of the November project in Oslo, Norway, which is set in a police station and aspires to be a Barnahus for adults. Drawing on both the Norwegian Barnahus model and a Swedish multi-agency model for adult and child victims of domestic violence, this project constitutes a complex translation process. As two related but disparate source models are brought together and translated across both national borders and age divides, there should be an acute awareness of the particular recipient context, especially in terms of existing collaborative structures and unmet needs. The analysis is relevant for countries that are considering the implementation of the Nordic Barnahus model because it highlights the importance of a detailed analysis of the local institutional landscape.