Diffusion and Translation of the Barnahus Model Through the Lens of Institutional Tensions

Abstract

Since the Barnahus model was first introduced in Iceland in 1998, it has spread to a number of European countries, both within and beyond the Nordic region. This introductory chapter has two main objectives: The first is to describe the further diffusion of the Barnahus model throughout Europe and to exemplify various translations at local levels; the second is to set the framework for the book by introducing the concepts of institutional tensions and logics. We introduce the concepts involved in understanding the Barnahus model in the light of its ongoing implementation within different institutional contexts and related to this book’s four main themes: (1) legal tensions, (2) organisational tensions, (3) professional-ethical tensions, and (4) balancing institutional tensions.