Testing gender-based violence support in open preschools
Project leader Georgina Warner and doctoral researcher Anna Pérez-Aronsson developed the support model in collaboration with women who have experienced gender-based violence. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
A new model has been developed to support refugees who are subjected to gender-based violence. This approach, created in collaboration with women who have had similar experiences of violence, will now be tested in open preschools in Uppsala. The hope is that by reaching out to places women typically visit, greater awareness can be raised among a broader group.
You have developed a model to support refugees who are subjected to gender-based violence. What’s unique about this model?
“I would say the fact that it's been conceived together with survivors of gender-based violence is quite unique, especially here in Sweden. We worked together on our joint understanding of gender-based violence and which services we should reach out to. So, they were very active in framing the model development right from the beginning,” says Project leader Georgina Warner, Researcher at Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences.
You also have a different approach, trying to reach people in new settings?
“Yes, when thinking about gender-based violence, one might tend to navigate towards those services that are specialised in violence prevention. Whereas actually what the ladies told us is the most important actors in society for reaching women, especially with undisclosed experiences of gender-based violence, are those that they're meeting regularly. For example, the civic orientation courses, SFI or open preschools.”
What is the model focused on?
“It includes both prevention and treatment interventions. The preventative intervention is going to be hosted at open preschools in Uppsala where the aim is to start conversations about gender-based violence and the associated help that people can receive. Here we are collaborating with National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women (NCK), which will train preschool staff in conducting conversations aimed at raising awareness and how to respond to disclosures.”
The conversations to raise awareness about gender-based violence will be based on a series of pictures and films depicting different scenarios, which are accompanied by questions for discussion.
And when someone needs help?
“For mental health support, the Swedish Red Cross has already started delivering a skills-based training program focused on emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning. It’s a group-based intervention, which was important to the ladies who felt strongly that survivors of gender-based violence should meet with others who have had similar experiences. Individual safety planning is also very important, especially if the violence is ongoing. For this, the Swedish Red Cross works together with the local social services.”
Now you are going to test the preventive part in open preschools; why have you chosen open preschools specifically?
− We're starting with open preschools. We're planning to go wider, so our next phase would be the formal civic orientation program, the lessons where migrants go to understand more about Swedish culture. We went for open preschools because what we see in academic research, and also what the ladies tell us, is that one of the most vulnerable groups in society is mothers of young children. As they are on parental leave, they're not going to the civic orientation program and they can be quite hidden in society. They might also be on a spousal visa. So, they are reliant on their partners.
What are your hopes for the outcomes of this project?
− The first phase is to know, do women attend? Is it helpful? And then it will be about scaling up and this is where so many interventions fail. We have the ambition to take this national, we have the partners to do that. It's very important before doing that, that we understand that this is safe and helpful.
Sandra Gunnarsson
Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) is any acts or threat of acts leading to physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering, perpetrated against people based on socially ascribed gender.
The research project where the model is going to be tested will last for three years. It will be conducted in collaboration with the open preschools in Uppsala County, the Swedish Red Cross Competence Centre for Rehabilitation for Torture and War Trauma, and the National Knowledge Centre for Men’s Violence Against Women (NCK). The team of survivors involved in the development of the model will take an active role throughout the project.
The project is funded by Forte and the Uppsala University Centre for Women's Mental Health (WOMHER).