Tonje Gundersen

Dr. Tonje Gundersen is a Researcher at Oslo Metropolitan University's Center for Welfare and Working Life Research (NOVA), specializing in Childhood, Family and Child Welfare. She holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Oslo (2012) with a thesis on parental coping strategies for rare childhood diagnoses.

• Joined NOVA's Childhood, Family and Child Welfare section
• Conducted evaluations of crisis centers, children's homes, and state grant schemes
• 2020-2024 researcher in family welfare program
• 2013-2017 section leader for Childhood, Family and Child Welfare
• Active in Nordic institutional child welfare networks

Her research focuses on user experiences in child welfare systems, disability studies, and violence prevention. She examines structural barriers to help-seeking for disabled individuals, transitional support for care-experienced youth, and family dynamics in foster care arrangements.

• Current projects: Care and Change Model evaluation, CoChildren collaboration, Pandemic impact on upbringing
• Past projects: State Children's Home evaluation, LOS scheme evaluation, Violence in close relationships study
• Administrative expertise: Research strategy, quality assurance, dissemination, competence development

Recent publications emphasize residential care units for youth, particularly analyzing voluntary/coercive boundaries in addiction institutions and solitary confinement practices. Her work bridges sociological theory (e.g., Vygotsky, life course theory) with practical welfare implementation.