The Pulsar emergency and response team is launching its work against violence among children.

The Pulsinn emergency and response team has been launched. The aim of Pulsinn is to respond quickly to violent behaviour, provide support to a child and their family, and defuse the risk of further violence.

Part of the government's measures on violence among and against children

The team is a collaborative project between the municipalities of the Capital Region (SSH), the Capital Region Police and the Children and Family Agency. It is part of the government's measures on violence among and against children and is supported by the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs. In the ministry's grant allocation to municipalities this autumn, nearly 500 million krónur were allocated to 15 projects across the country – the largest grant, of 240 million krónur, was awarded for the establishment of a new centralised emergency and response team for child abuse cases: Púlsinn.

The Pulse team is staffed by a group of experienced specialists with extensive experience of working with young people in crisis. The team is tasked with responding to and addressing issues of violence, clarifying and simplifying referral pathways, and ensuring effective collaboration between all service providers and systems. By intervening earlier in such matters and providing appropriate support to children who are perpetrators of violence quickly and effectively, it is hoped that the likelihood of such offences recurring will be reduced, and that incidents of violence among children will decrease.

„We should never accept violence among children or against children. Our duty is to respond with humanity, determination and responsibility, with the child themselves at the centre of everything we do. The Pulse is a very important milestone, because through a coordinated effort we can better protect children and reduce violence,“ says Inga Sæland, Minister of Education and Children's Affairs. „The Ministry put out a call for projects from local authorities last year for this purpose. The Pulse has now been implemented and more projects are in the pipeline, and I truly believe and hope that they will deliver results in improving the well-being of children.“ says Inga Sæland, Minister of Education and Children's Affairs.

„The project is part of our necessary measures against violence among children. The aim of Púlsinn is to speed up responses to cases of violence, clarify reporting channels and strengthen cooperation in our joint care of children and families. We know that by intervening early and with targeted support, it is possible to reduce the recurrence of offences and the number of such cases.“ says Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, Mayor and Chair of the SSH Board.

Seek to avert further violence

Púlsinn is based in the South-Central Centre of Reykjavík City, but the team's staff travel between the municipalities as the situation requires. The team intervenes in emerging cases, assesses whether there is a risk of further violence, and seeks ways to resolve communication difficulties. The aim is to avert the risk of further violence before the team's involvement concludes. A clear procedure is followed, which has been signed by representatives of all municipalities and which ensures, among other things, that cases are handled in a consistent manner.

A diverse and experienced group

Andrea Marel, a leisure and social studies specialist, is the team leader of Púlsinn. She is joined on the team by eight other specialists with diverse backgrounds, experience and language skills. The team includes, among others, another leisure and social work specialist, social workers and psychologists. The staff have worked within several local authorities and, what unites them most, is their extensive experience of working with young people who have engaged in risky behaviour and face various challenges in their lives.

The service providers request the team's involvement.

A school, youth club, social services, the police and others who provide services to children can activate Púlsinn. If parents or guardians believe that Púlsinn should be involved in their child's case, the first step is to contact any of the above and request assistance in connecting with the team.

More about The Pulse
More on government measures against violence among children