Step 3 – Establishing the Barnahus
The establishment phase often includes many technical and logistical considerations for the setup and operation of a multidisciplinary interagency service, under one roof, for child victims of violence.
Questions about location, renovations, budgets for setup and operation, what the different physical rooms should – and shouldn’t – contain, the technical systems available that support the child welfare and criminal processes, and more.
The Competence Centre at the Barnahus Network supports countries to answer these technical questions, including through:
- Real-life examples of how others have budgeted, consulted with children, set up their facilities, and more
- Factsheets and other technical guidance
- Specialized training modules, including tailor-made training upon request
- Small group and 1-to-1 mentoring and networking opportunities
- Study visits for professionals and policymakers
Find our related courses, publication, and other resources below, or move on to Step 4 – Competent and Committed staff.
Related webinars and publications
Journey to the Lighthouse – an interview
Advocacy, Competent staff, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Interagency cooperation, MultidisciplinaryIt also features an interview with the author about the Lighthouse, the turning points to launching the service, her motivation to persevere on the long journey to launching it, and what to expect in the future. Special speakers who...
20 years of Barnahus – Featuring Bragi Guðbrandsson
Barnahus Quality Standards, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Multidisciplinary, Network, WebinarsBragi Guðbrandsson, head of the Icelandic Government Agency for Child Protection, is the initiator and purveyor of the Barnahus model...
Mapping of forensic medical interventions at Barnahus across Europe
Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Medical, Physical healthThe report compiles information from Barnahus about their course of action regarding forensic medical examinations in the context of multidisciplinary interventions....
Forensic interview: why, how, and adaptations
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Forensic interviews, Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryThis webinar mini-series presents the importance of a forensic interview for child victims and witnesses of violence, how one is conducted, and how to adapt it to the special needs of the child....
Combined child-parent cognitive behavioural therapy (CPC-CBT)
Child protection, Competent staff, Courses and support, Establishing Barnahus, Mental health, TherapyThis lecture series on combined child-parent cognitive behavioural therapy (CPC-CBT) features Bengt Söderström from Allmänna Barnhuset in Sweden. It is geared towards those who will soon train in CPC-CBT, and also those who are...
At the Crossroads of child-centred criminal and welfare proceedings
Child protection, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, EU Law, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Legal, MultidisciplinaryAt the Crossroads is a legal briefing which explores the considerations for when criminal justice proceedings intersect with child protection proceedings in cases, particularly when they involve child victims of violence. Experience...
PROMISE Hub – a technical walkthrough of our forthcoming case management system
Barnahus Quality Standards, Case management, Courses and support, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Interagency cooperationThis webinar is designed to help you evaluate the tool in its current state of development, and to learn about when and how to plan for bringing Hub to your Barnahus....
Considerations for evidence recording at the Barnahus
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Factsheet, Forensic interviews, Legal, MultidisciplinaryThere is much more to recording interviews at a Barnahus than setting up a system and hitting record. To best perform its role, a Barnahus must comply with local/international rules and regulations of evidence recording, and be able to...
At the Crossroads of child-centred criminal and welfare proceedings
Child protection, Child protection, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, EU Law, Excellence in practice, Legal, Multidisciplinary, WebinarsAt the Crossroads is a legal briefing which explores the considerations for when criminal justice proceedings intersect with child protection proceedings in cases, particularly when they involve child victims of violence. Experience...
Barnahus roadmap guidance and template
Advocacy, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Interagency cooperation, Multidisciplinary, TemplatesThe Barnahus roadmap guidance and template gives inspiration on how to document and communicate the strategy and progress towards establishing and operating a Barnahus, and for executing and monitoring the national Barnahus strategy. A...
Considerations for evidence recording at the Barnahus
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Factsheet, Forensic interviews, Forensic interviews, Interagency cooperation, Legal, Multidisciplinary, WebinarsThere is much more to recording interviews at a Barnahus than setting up a system and hitting record. To best perform its role, a Barnahus must comply with local/international rules and regulations of evidence recording, and be able to...
Interagency agreement template and guidance
Barnahus Quality Standards, Competent staff, Establishing Barnahus, Interagency cooperation, Multidisciplinary, TemplatesThis Template and Guidance offers inspiration for drafting an interagency agreement, which formalizes multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) team collaboration between agencies involved in Barnahus. It is based on the Barnahus...
Medical evaluation: why, how, and diagnostics
Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Interagency cooperation, Medical, Physical healthThis webinar mini-series explores the many considerations for meeting the medical evaluation criteria for Barnahus....
Adapting the Barnahus concept to local realities
Barnahus Quality Standards, Child friendly, Child protection, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Getting to yes, Interagency cooperation, Mental health, Physical healthBarnahus is a flexible format for providing rapid access to justice and care for child victims and witnesses of violence. Join our webinar Thursday to learn how Barnahus Linköping, Sweden and the Child and Youth Protection Center of...
Putting the child at the centre: ensuring an inclusive and child-friendly setup
Child friendly, Child participation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yesThis webinar is aimed at professionals who are in all stages of preparing, planning, and continually improving Barnahus or similar setups which are providing a multidisciplinary and interagency response to child victims and witnesses...
Law as one enabling factor for the Barnahus
Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Legal, MultidisciplinaryThere is a range of ways to use legislation to enable the setup and success of the Barnahus. From full legislation to no legislation, having the perfect law in place is incredibly useful, yet not an absolute condition for establishing...
The PROMISE Barnahus Quality Standards
Barnahus Quality Standards, Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthThe PROMISE Barnahus Quality Standards are composed of underlying principles, specific activities and institutional arrangements that enable child-centred and effective, collaborative actions. Find out more and download the Standards...
Related courses and support
Medical evaluation in Barnahus
Competent staff, Physical healthDepending on your needs, we can offer online or offline sessions with top European experts – including paediatricians and medical forensic doctors, covering a wide range of topics....
Forensic interview with avatar practice
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Establishing Barnahus, MultidisciplinaryThis course offers basic training in child forensic interviews with a specific focus on challenging situation such as interviewing small children and those with special needs. The course consists of one-week online training including...
BaseCan – Introduction to child abuse and neglect
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthThe course covers different theories and working methods tailored to the work of Barnahus, which are relevant for all staff and competencies covering all four rooms embedded in the multidisciplinary approach: criminal...
Barnahus quality standards training
Enabling environment, Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryThe Barnahus Quality Standards is not just our hero document, it is also the publication which current and aspiring Barnahus from 22+ countries have contributed to and/or are currently implementing....
TF-CBT – Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy
Child protection, Competent staff, Mental healthA conjoint child and parent psychotherapy model for children who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events. Successful participants of this course will be certified to practice...
Plan a study visit to a Barnahus
Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryA study visit to a Barnahus is a rite of passage for a team who is studying if Barnahus will work in their context, or who is tasked with establishing one. More than that, it is an unmissable opportunity for aligning a steering group...
Expert consultations
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthConnect with PROMISE experts to consult on a specific case, to get a second opinion or get specific advice in relation to a specific child protection intervention/case in your Barnahus....
Recording of child interviews
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yesThere is much more to recording interviews at a Barnahus than setting up a system and hitting record. To best perform its role, a Barnahus must comply with local/international rules and regulations of evidence recording, and be able to...
Professional networking and exchange
Child protection, Criminal investigation, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthOur professional networks and exchanges are member-led initiatives based on thematic areas or professional specialization. They support Barnahus staff to connect with their peers from around Europe, and to gain access to a vibrant...
Support desk
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthAll Network members have access to the support desk service, provided by the PROMISE Barnahus Network Secretariat....
University seminars, Q&As, lectures, and modules
Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryThe PROMISE Barnahus Network is proud to support courses, workshops and seminars that include modules introducing the Barnahus model. ...
Judicial workshops
Criminal investigation, Establishing Barnahus, Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryTo convince judges to support the introduction of Barnahus in their national systems, Judge Sigvaldason noted that they often need to hear it from another judge. PROMISE has also seen just how influential it can be for judges to meet...
CFTSI – Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention
Child protection, Competent staff, Mental healthA brief early intervention model for children and adolescents that is implemented soon after exposure or disclosure. Successful participants will be certified to practice CFTSI with clients....
Putting children’s rights and procedural safeguards at the heart of barnahus practice
Child protection, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Getting to yes, MultidisciplinaryThis module supports participants in understanding what a child rights based approach implies and considering how to fulfil those rights in day to day practice in the Barnahus....
Forensic medical
Competent staff, Excellence in practice, Physical healthDescription coming soon ......
CPC-CBT – Combined parent-child cognitive behavioural therapy
Competent staff, Excellence in practice, Mental healthChildren and parents work individually and together. Every session ends with a conjoint meeting with the child and the parents for integration and practicing new skills and strategies. Successful participants will be certified to...
Tailor-made training and support
Child protection, Competent staff, Criminal investigation, Enabling environment, Establishing Barnahus, Excellence in practice, Getting to yes, Mental health, Multidisciplinary, Physical healthIn collaboration with you and based on your needs, we will develop a custom intervention that engages top experts in Europe and abroad who will support your work towards establishing Barnahus and meeting the Barnahus Quality Standards....
MDIA/MDT – Establishing and working in a multidisciplinary interagency team
Competent staff, Enabling environment, Excellence in practice, MultidisciplinaryThis course introduces multidisciplinary and interagency (MDT or MDIA) teamwork. It explores why teams take work, and the essential components of effective teaming....
