SPONSORED: Meet Janine Ewen, expert child vulnerability and harm reduction speaker and trainer

A prominent specialist in harm reduction, underserved populations and childhood trauma and vulnerability is looking to do more guest speaking at universities and with the legal community.

Janine Ewen, with more than two decades of experience in childhood vulnerability, harm reduction, public health, and law enforcement, is eager to share her insights and experiences from these fields with professionals, students, and those in the legal sector.

‘I have accumulated valuable experiences in these fields, and I hope to share my stories along with general guidance related to working in these domains.’

Janine started her life in Northern Ireland, where she came to understand the realities of the ethno-nationalist conflict. She was brought up in a community with substantial divisions and disadvantage, which she still reflects on to ensure we aim to transform for the better.

Her interest in policing and vulnerability started as a child, with direct experiences of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) handling of domestic abuse. This exposed her to what happens when policing and protections fail – including being physically restrained by police officers and witnessing the police giving inadequate support to her mother. Janine then moved to rural Aberdeenshire with her mother and brother and lived for two years in a women’s refuge.

‘I believe that numerous early experiences, particularly my time living in a refuge instilled in me a desire to hear people's stories and reinforced the importance of being non-judgmental. It was enjoyable to reside alongside other families, creating a supportive community. I appreciated witnessing the women uplift each other, including my own mother.’

Janine Ewen also has unique insights about going through the criminal justice system as a child.

Career achievements and milestones

• Acquired multiple qualifications in criminology, public health, sociology, management and leadership, as well as advanced research methodologies. She received distinctions in several of these areas.
• Early work was based on developing provision, training and support in the areas of childhood domestic abuse, trauma and substance misuse and child-centred policing.
• Leading on cases in relation to exploitation and vulnerability.
• Supporting underserved populations through empowering methodologies.
• Oversaw operations for one of the largest harm reduction initiatives in Scotland, which received four years of funding from the Scottish Government.
• Training law enforcement and collaborating with international police agencies to enhance support for crime victims.
• Accomplished multiple consulting initiatives, such as addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in Europe and developing Scotland's inaugural strategy for gender, safety, and harm reduction.
• The creation of a resource that partners can utilise worldwide to collaboratively design health needs assessments for underserved communities, intended for the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association.
• Collaborating on, designing, and engaging in multiple research projects focused on childhood domestic abuse, the policing of domestic abuse, and child protection.
• Producing open access material to enhance trauma aware care for young people.

If you would like to invite Janine as guest speaker or to talk about training in any of these areas, she can be contacted at: janine.ewen@gmail.com