Children with multiple stays at Nordic refuges for abused women: conclusions, challenges, and causes for concern

Abstract

This research was funded by ExtraStiftelsen ([grant number 2012/2/0246]) in collaboration with the Norwegian Council for Mental Health (Råde for psykisk helse). The research was hosted at the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies in Oslo and affiliated with the University of Bergen (Department of Education). I was also fortunate to join the National Research School for Teacher Education during my research process. Thank you for a knowledgeable and amazing three years. A special thanks to the children of this study, their mothers, and the refuges for allowing and supporting this research. I owe these children my deepest gratitude for sharing their thoughts and stories. Your voices provided valuable knowledge about the lives of children living multiple relocations at refuges for abused women, which is a great asset for schools, refuges, and other support agencies as well as policymakers. I would like to thank my supervisor, Associate Professor Carolina Øverlien, for her support and complete engagement. Thank you for your constant advice, inspiration, guidance, and challenging encouragement throughout this research. I have enjoyed all the academic opportunities you offered and the intellectual discussion you provided along the way. I am fortunate to have had you as my adviser! I also thank my second adviser, Professor Arild Raaheim, for his support, interesting discussions, positive feedback, and continuous encouragement. It has been a pleasure working with you. I am also grateful to Anne Solberg and Ingrid Helleve for their time and interest in my research. Thank you for inspiring discussions and feedback. A special thanks to Hayat and Luma for all the technical and reading support you have provided overseas. Thanks to Alexander Hauglin for saving my dissertation documents when my PC decided to crash. This thesis would not have been possible without the love and support of my beloved husband Kjetil and my children Serin, Elma and Adam, whom I have neglected the past couple of years. Thank you for being patient, thank you for encouraging me all the way, and thank you for all the help you gave me without asking. I couldn't have done this without you and for that I am forever grateful! My dear family on both sides! Thank you for your help when life was difficult to bear alone. My dear friends! My dear neighbors! And dear parents of my children's friends! Thank you for all the support and care you have provided me and my family during my studies.

Norwegian Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence in the COVID-19 Pandemic – Navigating the New Normal

“…The purpose of the Shelter Act is to ensure the provision of good, comprehensive shelter services to women, men, and children who are subjected to domestic violence or threats of such violence (Bakketeig et al, 2014 ). In recent years, the focus on children in shelters has increased in both Norway and other Nordic countries (Selvik & Øverlien, 2014 ). Municipalities are obliged to offer adequate and appropriate accommodation at a shelter, as well as daytime services, such as advice, support, and guidance.…”

Educational Opportunities and Obstacles for Teenagers Living in Domestic Violence Refuges

“…Studies have highlighted the impact of DVA on education and academic achievement, reporting behavioural difficulties, problems with school adjustment or absenteeism (Perkins and Graham‐Bermann, 2012). Moreover, living in refuge accommodation has additional effects (Holt et al ., 2008; Selvik and Øverlien, 2015). The impact of this can potentially remove many protective factors offered by school such as peer support and a stable educational environment (Wolfe et al ., 2003).…”

Children Fleeing Domestic Violence to Emergency Accommodations: Education Rights and Experiences

“…1 shows, statistics on children with multiple refuge relocations are available from 2003, with an interruption between 2008 and 2013; this interruption notwithstanding, it is evident that children with multiple relocations have made up a stable proportion (11%-17%) of all children at refuges over the years, with the exception of 2007 (24%) and 2015 (23%). Children made multiple stays at the same or different refuges for safety reasons (Bufdir, 2014(Bufdir, -2020Selvik & Øverlien, 2014).…”

“…But school absence and change of schools can be an additional challenge, potentially causing knowledge gaps, missed instruction, and interrupted social relations (Chanmugam & Teasley, 2014;Frederick & Goddard, 2010;Koutselini & Valanidou, 2014;Stanley, 2011). Selvik and Øverlien (2014) highlighted three fundamental challenges children with multiple refuge relocations face: prolonged and repeated experience of domestic violence, repeated disruptions to relationships, and repeated disruptions to school and preschool attendance. Based on the available literature on domestic violence and children, they concluded that these children are at risk of developing social and psychological difficulties, may have limited access to resources that could help develop their resilience to violence, and may fail or drop out of school.…”