The case in summary: • In recent years, several municipalities have refused to continue agreements with the 21 abuse centers around the country, which threatens the centres’ existence.• The offer at Nok. is not required by law, unlike the shelters, and depends on municipal support to receive state support.• General manager of Nok. Norway, Ingvild Hestad Torkelsen, believes the time is ripe for state funding of the abuse centres.• Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) understands that the current funding model is challenging, but it is not relevant to change it now.• Viktoria has managed to apply help from DPS for the mental disorders she has suffered after the rape, thanks to the help she received at the Nok centre. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The mental health team in the municipality of Viktoria lives in Mente Nok. had better knowledge to help people after abuse than they themselves. – I was so down that I wondered if I was strong enough to get through it, says Viktoria, who says that she was raped several years ago. news has chosen to anonymize Viktoria to protect her, but uses her real first name. We have met her at Nok. Hammer Enough. became her salvation. But they depend on agreements with municipalities to get state support. In recent years, several municipalities have refused to continue the agreements with the 21 centers around the country. The abuse center in Hamar is one of several that have to limit their offer because municipalities cancel the agreement. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Lower threshold and more knowledge Viktoria didn’t know who to go to when the feelings from the rape flared up again a year ago. There was chaos in her head and she felt shame. But when she entered the Nok centre, with its subdued colors on the walls and homely interior, her shoulders began to sag. – I was received as an ordinary person, and they understood what I was going through, she says. The conversations have contributed to the fact that today she does not have such dark thoughts and is able to stay at work. This is Nok: Nok is a low-threshold help service for victims of incest, sexual abuse and rape for those over 16 and their relatives. The centers started as private foundations that obtained agreements with the municipalities where they were located. They offer free services, users do not need a referral and there is no waiting time. There are 21 centers in Norway. It is not required by law unlike shelters. The main offer is one-to-one talks and group talks, but they are also a specialist resource and offer teaching on questions about sexual abuse. (Source: NOU 2024 “Rape an unsolved social problem”) The offer at Nok. is not required by law, unlike the shelters. After a year with a record number of users, Nok. Hamar cancel the offer they have in Kongsvinger, ten miles away. In the autumn, the municipality terminated the agreement for NOK 136,000 and justified it with tight municipal finances. They thought they had good enough other offers. Leader of the committee for Health and coping in Kongsvinger Torunn Arnesen (R) says they have no opportunity to get it in during this year’s budget processing, but hopes for a solution next year. Since Bufdir gives four times what the municipality contributes in support, Nok loses. Hamar over half a million kroner just for lack of support from Kongsvinger. But the neighboring municipality is also considering rejecting the agreement, which is why they will lose almost NOK 1 million in support next year. Then they have to drop the offer in Kongsvinger. It affects the night’s sleep of the general manager of Nok. Hamar Heidi Rognlidalen. Managing Director in Nok. Hamar’s Heidi Rognlidalen has to go through the same round every autumn to secure offers for victims of abuse. Photo: Frode Meskau / news – I think about the users, the offer and the employees, and that it will be very unpredictable, she says. She thinks it’s a shame to have to spend so much energy on funding when she really wants to work more with the users and the preventive work. It is the same situation every autumn with getting agreements with municipalities in port. Wants government funding The number of people using the Nok centers in Norway has increased by a few hundred every year. Managing director of Nok. Norway Ingvild Hestad Torkelsen believes that increased focus on sexual abuse in the media in recent years has led to more people seeking help. It can be difficult to get help in the public sector. Nevertheless, three of the offers in Northern Norway have been closed in the last three years. At least ten municipalities have refused to continue the agreements they have with the 21 centers around the country due to finances. Those who terminate the agreements are the biggest challenge since operation of the centers is based on agreements with the municipalities. There are now 88 municipalities that do not have an agreement with the Nok centres, and have not had one for several years. – We have had this financing arrangement for several years. In recent years, we have seen that the municipalities have less money and it requires more effort and work to maintain the agreements we already have in place, says Hestad Torkelsen. Managing Director in Nok. Norway Ingvild Hestad Torkelsen believes the Nok. centers should have been state-funded. Photo: Frode Meskau / news She believes the time is ripe for state funding of the abuse centres. – It will make the offer more equal and, not least, it will be less labour-intensive, says Ingvild Hestad Torkelsen. The NOU report to the Rape Committee that came in March 2024 recommends it. Not relevant When news in the autumn published a survey of how little help patients who are subjected to abuse by doctors receive, Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) reacted strongly to the figures. He believed that all stones had to be turned over to improve the offer and pointed out that the Norwegian Health Authority could, among other things, guide those at risk to crisis centers and non-profit organizations with experience to help. But that offer varies depending on where you live. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) understands that the current funding model is challenging, but it is not appropriate to change it now. – A central funding model could have been more predictable than the chosen model, but the government has, after considering the various considerations, concluded that no changes will be made to the funding model now, she replies. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) says it is not appropriate to change the funding model for the Nok centers now. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news She points out that the municipalities are the closest to finding the best adapted offers for users. For Viktoria, the lessons at the Nok center in Hamar have led to her being able to seek help from DPS for the mental disorders she has suffered after the rape. But she can come to interviews at Nok. as long as she needs. – I don’t think I need it unlimited, but it has given me so much that I hope more people can get the help, she says. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Published 16.12.2024, at 16.17
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