More and more children in Norway are growing up in poverty.
New Patterns is an initiative aimed at disrupting the pattern where child poverty is passed on from generation to generation.
The initiative involves providing a dedicated family coordinator to ensure comprehensive and coordinated support for families with low income and complex challenges. These coordinators work closely with the family over a five-year period, assisting both adults and children.
Comprehensive effort over five years
Associate Professor Eirin Mølland at the University of Agder (UiA) leads the new research project titled 'New Patterns - Long-term Effects and Implementation'. It aims to study the impact of the New Patterns initiative over time.
New Patterns
- The initiative was first developed in Kristiansand in 2016. Since then, it has been further developed through the Public Health Programme in Agder and as an innovation project supported by the Research Council of Norway.
- Today, 16 municipalities across the country participate in New Patterns, from Tromsø in the north to Lindesnes in the south, involving over 400 families. Several other municipalities have expressed interest in adopting the model.
- Kristiansand municipality owns the research project 'New Patterns - Long-term Effects and Implementation', in collaboration with researchers from the University of Agder. Partner municipalities include Arendal, Stavanger, Lindesnes and NAV Lister.
Mølland says that previous research on the initiative has shown positive results. The living situations, finances and use of services improve for participating families. Children also engage more in leisure activities.
"Previous research has given us knowledge about the challenges these families face and how the model works. But we still need more information about its long-term effects. This new project will provide that," says Mølland.
In addition, the researchers will explore what Norwegian municipalities need to do to successfully implement models like New Patterns. Studies indicate that despite strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of welfare initiatives, only a small fraction successfully implement new measures.
"We will study why some municipalities succeed and identify the challenges they face. Our goal is to develop a model that is easy to implement in other municipalities," says Mølland.
Co-creation in practice
"We are so pleased and grateful for the support from the Living Conditions Programme, which enables this research project. We need more insight into the long-term effects of coordinated efforts. Often, measures and services end early, and we know little about their lasting impacts," says Kristine Vigsnes.
She is a researcher at Kristiansand municipality and is pursuing a Public Sector PhD at the University of Agder, focusing on how municipalities address complex health challenges through the New Patterns initiative.
Vigsnes explains that Kristiansand municipality is dedicated to offering services that are knowledge-based, ensuring high quality and positive impacts.
"The research associated with New Patterns has all along been a real collaboration between research and practice, which has been an important success factor. The project generates knowledge that directly impacts how practice develops," she says.
Long time horizon
The research project will span six years and involve two PhD research fellows.
Eirik Abildsnes, Head of Research at Kristiansand municipality, emphasizes how important it is that the project has an extensive time frame.
"We greatly appreciate that the Living Conditions Programme has decided to invest in a project of such long duration. This will give us new knowledge about how New Patterns works in the long term and what it takes to successfully implement it," he says in a press release from Kristiansand municipality (in Norwegian).
Abildsnes points out that this knowledge is also sought after by expert committees focused on children in poor families. It will be important for prioritizing and developing initiatives for families facing complex challenges.