Ragnhild Bjørknes

BACKGROUND This article is a knowledge summary and classification of the Tuning in to Kids (TIK) parenting programme aimed at all parents of children aged 0–12 years. The programme focuses on the emotional connection between parents and children, with the aim of helping parents become more aware of their own emotions, develop the ability to manage them, and acquire new skills through an emotion-coaching parenting style. The programme is delivered as six group sessions (each lasting 2 hours) with 6–10 parent pairs per group. The parenting programme was developed by Professor Sophie Havighurst and Ann Harley at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Tuning in to Kids is owned by the University of Melbourne, represented by Sophie Havighurst and Ann Harley. The programme owner and those responsible for implementation in Norway is Tuning in to Kids Europe. METHOD This review is based on systematic literature searches in national and international knowledge databases such as EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PSYCHINFO, COCHRANE, ALMA, NORA, SWEMED+, Google Scholar, InSum, COCHRANE, Campbell, Helsebibloteket, NICE, Blueprint, CEBC, Vidensportalen, Metodeguiden, CINAHL, and EIF evidence standards. Information about the program was also obtained from the program owner. Literature searches and additional information were examined to identify Nordic effectiveness studies, international review studies, and any other Norwegian studies of the program. RESULTS The results consist of an assessment of the programme’s description, available effectiveness studies, research methodological quality, and implementation quality. The main aim and theoretical rationale of TIK are well described through the programme manual, and the programme has a defined structure for implementation. The evaluation of the TIK parenting programme includes two Norwegian studies, with results currently published in three publications. The first study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a waitlist control group, with data collected before and after the intervention. The methodological quality is satisfactory in the first study; however, questions are raised about the validity of the results due to a limited sample size and self-selection into the study. The second study was conducted as a cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a waitlist control group, with data collected before and after the intervention. The second study has good methodological quality. CONCLUSION The main findings from the included studies suggest that parents who participated in the programme experienced an increase in their emotion socialisation practices towards their children, as well as a reduction in children’s behavioural problems. Parents also reported that their child’s problem behaviour was easier to manage after participation in the programme. Tuning in to Kids (TIK) is classified at evidence level 4 - Intervention with satisfactory documented effect.

This study examines the characteristics and change, from intake to post-treatment, of justiceinvolved youth (N = 308) aged 12 to 18 in Norway receiving multisystemic therapy (MST), therapeutic residential care (TRC), or substance abuse-therapeutic residential care (SA-TRC). Utilizing the national case journal system, the research investigates changes in dynamic risk factors associated with youth recidivism. At intake, the total risk scores were similar across all three interventions, indicating a high risk of reoffending, with a longer treatment duration for those in residential care. All interventions resulted in a significant reduction in dynamic risk factors, with MST showing the most substantial improvement. The study suggests that TRC and SA-TRC could benefit from increased standardization and targeted interventions. Importantly, implementing the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model in home settings proves beneficial in that it facilitates the reintegration of youth into their social networks. The findings emphasize the necessity of evidence-based interventions within the child welfare system to address delinquency, aiming to prevent criminal pathways and reduce long-term justice system involvement among youths.

This article presents the findings of a study examining the resettlement experiences of displaced families in Norway, focusing on children's development opportunities and well‐being. Through qualitative interviews presented as four ideal‐typical families—Abdel, Elombe, Isaac and Amira—and guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory and Morgan's concept of ‘doing family’, the research explores how various ecological systems influence family dynamics and children's developmental trajectories. The findings show discrepancies in children's and parent's perceptions of past experiences. Further, challenges within the surrounding systems influence family interactions, illustrated by economic instability, school‐related challenges and parents' unemployment. The study suggests a need for supportive practices and policies to promote successful integration and improve the development opportunities and well‐being of refugee children.

Norway’s integration programme for newly arrived refugees is mandatory and is offered by all municipalities. The programme offers courses in social studies, Norwegian language and parental guidance. In 2023, it was decided to allow municipalities to adapt and shorten the latter course for families from Ukraine due to capacity constraints. To make informed adaptations, the municipalities need more information about the needs of parents from Ukraine. This article aims to provide knowledge that can help decision-makers plan and implement further adaptations to social and health services by examining living conditions, emotional problems, parental stress and resilience. The participants were Ukrainian refugees with children aged 6–12 from seven municipalities who completed an electronic questionnaire that included questions on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (short version), the Resilience Scale for Adolescents, and the Parenting Stress Index (short version). We found that economic living conditions among Ukrainian refugees were low, and that 26 per cent of the sample reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. Despite this, parents demonstrated resilience through their social resources, family cohesion, and low levels of parental stress. However, it is important to note that mental health issues and increased parental stress can emerge sometime after flight and settlement in Norway, and that poor economic conditions can exacerbate these concerns. Keywords: parenting programmes, refugees, Ukraine, poor economic conditions

The study investigated outcomes of Multisystemic Therapy (MST), for youths with and without recorded offenses. Over 10 years, 4,103 young people in Norway completed MST, and 5.39% of them had a criminal record. Those with previous offenses had higher scores on most dynamic risk factors. This high-risk group is predominantly boys, below the age of criminal responsibility (15 years) and have substance abuse issues. We observed reductions in risk factors from the beginning to the end of MST for both groups, with the group with offenses showing the most significant improvements. Committing a criminal offense at a young age is strongly associated with later recidivism. This study suggests that MST could disrupt cycles of offending by addressing criminological risk factors.

Our study examined Multisystemic Therapy outcomes for youths with and without recorded offenses. Over 10 years, 4103 youths completed MST in Norway, with 5.39% having a recorded offense. Reductions in risk factors were evident for both groups, but the highest effect sizes were found in the group with recorded offenses. Future research should investigate whether MST prevents recidivism in adulthood.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a worldwide health- and societal crisis (World Health Organization, 2020). The societal disruptions following highly restricting suppressive measures had a cascading ef...