Breadcrumbs

Assessing Person-Centered Outcomes in Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Conflict

Authored by: Stevan Weine, Mary Bunn, Dina Birman et al.

Categories: Violent Conflict
Sub-Categories: Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Violent Extremism
Region: No Region
Year: 2023
Citation: Weine, Stevan, Mary Bunn, Dina Birman, Chloe Polutnik Smith, Enryka Christopher, Michael King, John McCoy, Gulnaz Razdykova, Emma Cardeli, and Heidi Ellis. "Assessing Person-Centered Outcomes in Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Conflict." United States Institute of Peace, 2023. https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/07/assessing-person-centered-outcomes-women-and-children-returning-violent

Access the Resource:

Executive Summary

This paper outlines a person-centered approach to outcomes based upon existing evidence and practice knowledge for use with returning women and children in rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) programs. Being able to identify and assess outcomes, which are the intended accomplishments of these programs, are key for understanding change processes and developing strong programs. These programs should be able to assess and track key outcomes at multiple levels, including individual, family, community, and systems. However, little guidance currently exists regarding strategies for what outcomes should be assessed and how to do so. The authors reviewed multiple sources of data, including: 1) recommendations, guidance, and other tools developed for R&R by multilateral bodies and platforms; 2) recommendations and guidance from specific country R&R programs; 3) prior empirical research in the areas of refugee children, war-impacted children, child criminal gang members, child victims of maltreatment, and child victims of sex trafficking; and 4) systematic reviews of juvenile justice outcomes and terrorist deradicalization programs. By drawing upon the existing evidence regarding outcomes from the reviews, other relevant prior work, and practice knowledge, the authors developed a new person-centered approach to outcome indicators for returning women and children. With input from returnees, practitioners, stakeholders, and experts, the authors also developed assessment scales for adults and children and propose a method for their implementation and pilot testing in programs for women and child returnees.