DesistKit | resource-oriented and gender-focused distancing

Organisation

modus |zad – Centre for Applied Research on Deradicalisation 

The goal of modus|zad is to improve our societal reaction (speed and impact) to emerging developments of extremist groups and actors. We seek to prevent new extremist strategies and ideologies that promote violence from gaining a stronghold, and therefore ultimately hope to decrease the number of ideologically motivated violent crimes (including acts of terror). 

Type of Organisation: NGO

Project description

The DesistKit is especially designed for professionals working closely with individuals holding extremist views or showing extremist behavior with the aim to support them in moving away from extremism and thus better their life. The specialized tools can support social workers, counsellors, or caseworkers to effectively engage with individuals exhibiting extremist views or behaviors and identifying resources for disengagement processes. 

The DesistKit consist of three items: 

MANUAL 

The manual gives an introduction on how to use the CaseReflector and the DesistCards. Additionally, it outlines the approaches, characteristics, and concepts that shaped them. 

CASEREFLECTOR 

The CaseReflector supports caseworkers to reflect on their cases. The instrument is in the format of a PowerPoint-presentation that allows caseworkers to customise it for their use in documentation and reflection. The heart of the CaseReflector is a list of distancing factors covering all relevant topics for distancing processes. ‘Distancing factors’ describe certain aspects of life (e.g., family of origin, identity, employment) that can play a significant role in individuals’ distancing processes. The slides of the PowerPoint-presentation offer guiding questions to reflect on each distancing factor. 

DESISTCARDS 

The DesistCards are a set of cards that can be used in counselling sessions to help start a conversation and strengthen the working relationship. Reflection questions that refer to the distancing factors are listed on the cards.

The cards can also serve to identify which topics the individual wants to work on or talk about and assist in jointly setting goals for the counselling process.

Deliverables

• On the icommit website there are several publications in English, German and French to download.  
• Factsheet about the DesistKit.
• Manual
• CaseReflector
• DesistCards

Contact details

Address

Alt-Reinickendorf 25, 
13407 Berlin 
Germany

Contact person: Vivienne Ohlenforst and Anne Selby
Email | Website