Partnerships

Asker Kommune Project Kickoff

March 21, 2025
5 min read
Asker Kommune Project Kickoff

Asker Kommune is taking a leading initiative to ensure that employees working with children receive thorough training in best-practice conversations. In 2025, Innsikt.AI and Asker Kommune are collaborating on developing a digital training program that integrates with our AI-powered avatars.

Project Kickoff

Last Wednesday, we conducted the kickoff at Asker Town Hall for Cohort 1 of the project, which includes employees from:

  • Child welfare services (barneverntjenesten)
  • School health services (skolehelsetjenesten)

Participants were introduced to:

  • The first learning modules
  • Our AI-powered conversation avatars
  • The training methodology and approach
  • Support resources and timeline

A Pioneer Municipality

We deeply appreciate the collaboration with Asker Kommune — a municipality that leads the way in children's safety and security.

Leadership in Child Welfare

Asker Kommune demonstrates commitment to:

  • Evidence-based professional development
  • Investment in employee skills
  • Innovation in service delivery
  • Children's rights to quality services

Forward-Thinking Approach

By embracing digital training solutions, Asker Kommune shows:

  • Willingness to innovate in public services
  • Understanding of professional development needs
  • Commitment to continuous learning
  • Recognition of technology's potential

Project Structure

Cohort Approach

**Cohort 1 (Spring 2025)**:

  • Child welfare service employees
  • School health service professionals
  • Pilot testing of modules and avatars
  • Feedback for refinement

**Future Cohorts** (planned):

  • Schools (teachers and support staff)
  • Kindergartens (pedagogical leaders and staff)
  • Additional health services
  • Cross-service coordination

Training Components

**Learning Modules**:

  • Evidence-based conversation techniques
  • Child development and communication
  • Trauma-informed approaches
  • Legal and ethical frameworks
  • Best-practice protocols

**Avatar Practice**:

  • Realistic conversation scenarios
  • Age-appropriate child avatars
  • Various difficulty levels
  • Diverse presentation contexts

**Personalized Feedback**:

  • Individual performance assessment
  • Specific improvement suggestions
  • Progress tracking over time
  • Comparative benchmarking

**Ongoing Support**:

  • Technical assistance
  • Content questions and guidance
  • Community of practice
  • Continuous improvement

Program Goals

Employee Skill Development

Ensure all participating employees have:

  • Strong foundational knowledge
  • Practical conversation skills
  • Confidence in child interactions
  • Ability to handle complex situations

Children's Right to Participation

Strengthen:

  • Quality of dialogue between children and professionals
  • Children's ability to express themselves
  • Professionals' ability to understand children
  • Decision-making based on children's perspectives

Organizational Capacity

Build:

  • Consistent practice across departments
  • Shared language and approach
  • Internal expertise and mentorship
  • Culture of continuous learning

Evidence Generation

Create:

  • Documentation of implementation process
  • Evidence of skill improvement
  • Lessons learned for other municipalities
  • Model for scaling across Norway

Project Support

Akershus County Funding

The project is supported by Akershus fylkeskommune, demonstrating:

  • Regional commitment to child welfare innovation
  • Investment in municipal capacity building
  • Support for research-based solutions
  • Recognition of project significance

Collaborative Partnership

Success depends on collaboration between:

  • **Asker Kommune**: User expertise and implementation leadership
  • **Innsikt.AI**: Technology platform and training content
  • **Akershus County**: Funding and regional coordination
  • **Academic Partners**: Research foundation and evaluation

Implementation Approach

Co-Creation Model

The program is being developed through:

  • Input from frontline professionals
  • Iteration based on user feedback
  • Adaptation to local context and needs
  • Continuous refinement and improvement

Integration with Existing Practice

Digital training complements:

  • Existing training programs
  • Supervision and mentoring
  • Team meetings and case discussions
  • Professional development plans

Realistic Expectations

Recognizing that:

  • Skill development takes time and practice
  • Technology is tool, not replacement for expertise
  • Implementation requires organizational support
  • Success requires sustained commitment

Key Project Personnel

Asker Kommune

  • **Hege Oshaug**: Project lead and coordination
  • **Hege Ophus**: Implementation support
  • Frontline professionals from child welfare and school health

Innsikt.AI

  • **Gunn Astrid Baugerud**: Project lead and content development
  • **Steven Hicks**: Technology implementation and support
  • **Åsmund Lunnan Bjørnstad**: Platform development and user experience

Academic Partners

  • **OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University**: Research foundation
  • **Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering**: Technology development

Significance for Norway

Model for Other Municipalities

Asker's leadership provides:

  • Proof of concept for digital training
  • Implementation guidance for peers
  • Evidence of effectiveness
  • Confidence to innovate

Professional Development Innovation

Demonstrates:

  • Alternative to traditional training approaches
  • Scalability of evidence-based training
  • Cost-effectiveness of digital solutions
  • Integration of research and practice

Child Welfare Quality

Contributes to:

  • Improved professional skills nationally
  • Better outcomes for vulnerable children
  • Strengthened children's rights
  • Enhanced public confidence in services

Next Steps

Immediate (Spring 2025)

  • Complete Cohort 1 training cycle
  • Gather participant feedback
  • Refine modules and avatars
  • Document implementation lessons

Short-term (2025)

  • Launch subsequent cohorts
  • Expand to additional services
  • Evaluate skill development outcomes
  • Share learnings with other municipalities

Long-term (Beyond 2025)

  • Sustain training as ongoing program
  • Integrate fully into professional development
  • Contribute to national best practices
  • Support expansion to other municipalities

Learn More

Interested in bringing similar training to your municipality?

  • Review program structure and content
  • Connect with Asker Kommune for implementation insights
  • Contact Innsikt.AI for platform demonstration
  • Explore funding opportunities

Visit [innsikt.ai](https://innsikt.ai/) for more information.

Gratitude

We're honored to work with:

  • Asker Kommune's dedicated professionals
  • Akershus County for vision and support
  • Academic partners for research foundation
  • Most importantly, the professionals committed to serving children

Together, we're building a future where every child's voice is heard and valued.

#ChildWelfare #ProfessionalDevelopment #MunicipalInnovation #ChildRights #Norway #DigitalTraining

Interested in Learning More?

Discover how Innsikt.AI can transform your child interview training program.