Stichting Fier

As founder and director of Fier, I have been living and breathing the fight to stop violence against the most vulnerable in society for decades. Since founding Fier, the NGO has developed into the Dutch national expertise and treatment center for 'violence in dependency relationships':  child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, exploitation and human trafficking. This type of violence is the second largest cause of non-natural death after traffic accidents. Violence is a large and urgent social problem that can only be tackled through cooperation. My vision is to build a sustainable building next to and connected to one of our current treatment centers, where profit and non-profit sectors will come together in the mission to stop violence. We are inviting municipalities, companies, funds, housing associations, fellow institutions and others to participate. Only through joining forces can we aspire to tackle this social challenge. The Elevate Prize funding will be used to create a European Family Justice Center in the new building, a multiagency, multidisciplinary service center to provide services to victims of gender based violence, domestic violence, child abuse and sexual violence and their families, all from one location.

I was born and raised on Curaçao and moved to the Netherlands for my studies. In the late 1980s, the death of a young girl that I mentored hit me in such a profound way, that it marked the onset of my life's mission to help vulnerable children, youths and adults. In my video, I tell you more about this life altering event and the process it ignited in me.

As director of Fier, I developed a total care concept based on my holistic vision, called Veilige Veste ('Safe Fortress'), from where we offer security, help, treatment and social reintegration to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, honor-related violence and/or human trafficking. In 2019, I was knighted for my services to society.

Studies show that child abuse and neglect underlie a wide range of social problems. The more negative childhood experiences an adult has had, the greater the likelihood of mental and physical problems later in life. The social costs of violence in a dependency relationship are enormous. My goal is to bring about real and lasting systematic change in the approach to these problems, through the integral and holistic approach that we apply and develop at Fier.

As a nationally recognized and acclaimed center of expert knowledge, Fier acts on developments and problems as they arise in society. We choose not to focus on incidents, as we stand for a structural and direct approach. What happens in the world is our guideline. Responding to what society really needs requires a pro-active and dynamic approach. Which problems demand  our attention? What do victims and witnesses of violence need? And also, what do those committing these acts of violence need? It is only by reviewing, experiencing, treating and further developing that we can stay on top of what is really needed. The ultimate goal is to break the perpetual cycle of vulnerability and violence and to create new opportunities. We count 119.000 damaged children in the Netherlands every year; that is one in each classroom. Every year, Fier provides care for more than 2.000 victims of domestic human trafficking, loverboys, foreign human trafficking, domestic violence, high conflict divorces, honor-related violence, sexting/sextortion, child abuse, vulnerable parenting, partner violence, psychotrauma, radicalization, risk behaviors, sexual violence and early childhood traumatization. In addition, we help victims who reach out to us through our online Chat function (20.000 individual chats on average per year).

Fier aims to offer the best possible care from a holistic vision: we see people as a whole. What does your life look like and what do you need in order to reach your full potential? That is where we want to develop our help even further. The children, adolescents and adults we help have a problem, but they are not defined by their problem. At Fier the emphasis is on the future, on ambitions and dreams. Positive and successful experiences counterbalance complaints and problems.

Where we do all this? In our 'Veilige Veste', a place where we want to break through patterns that perpetuate violence by working on problems and healing trauma, while getting a degree in the meantime. Learning how to lead a healthy lifestyle, exercising and having a normal day and night rhythm. Doing internships, working on projects and gaining work experience. Building a normal life, establishing healthy relationships and a supportive community. We empower children, young people and families to build a future. Our Veilige Veste is unique. Not hidden, not concealed, no secret address. But proudly upright in the landscape. Like an invitation: come in - we are here for you, you are safe.

A safe environment to grow up in is not a reality for all children. Too many are confronted with violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation. Later in life, they struggle with the consequences of childhood traumatization: health problems, problems at school and at work, poverty, addiction problems, delinquency, risks of sexual exploitation, teen pregnancy, partner violence, and problems with parenting. There is a high risk that the children of these children will also be traumatized by experiencing violence or neglect at an early age. A vicious cycle of vulnerability and poverty that is passed on from generation to generation.

We can make an enormous difference if we can prevent and stop violence in dependency relationships. To this end, Fier has developed a total concept with a sustainable future-proof effect: the Veilige Veste. An integral, holistic and multidisciplinary care concept connected to its environment and society. Fier is inspired by the Family Justice Centers and will join the EFJCA in the near future. Our ambition for the coming years is to integrate and further develop the Veilige Veste concept and the FJC concept and entering into (inter)national strategic alliances. Guiding principles: Safety Focused: Survivor-driven; Kind-hearted; Offender-accountability; Empowered; Victim-centered; Relationship-based; Transformative; Cultural competent.

In 2020, Fier served 1941 people (1412 outpatients / 721 residential patients), 753 of whom were minors. We always work with the parents of minors and often with the parents of young adults. These are not listed as clients but we do influence them directly.

The number of people reached though Chat with Fier on a yearly basis is 19.927 (on average 55 chatters/day).

Our Center against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM) influences politics and society. The number of people served cannot be expressed in numbers but is still very relevant. Several motions have been submitted in parliament at the request of the CKM, of which some are used to write and implement new laws against human trafficking. From our National Support Centre for Extremism (LSE) we help 56 families/individuals and offer 90 advisory tracks to clients and 106 to professionals and municipalities.  

In 2021, we expect to serve at least this many people, with an increase in some groups due to the corona crisis. We are currently witnessing an increase in victims of honor related violence. This group has been mostly hidden in the past year, due to the closing of schools and other social and support systems.

Our main impact objectives are: to Prevent violence, to Stop violence and Help with the consequences of violence.

• At the level of society our Focus is on ‘Movement to Zero’, meaning reaching our goal of zero (young) people experiencing violence (neglect, abuse, mistreatment, exploitation, etc.): a non-violence society.
• At the 'survivor' level, our impact goals are treatment and assistance aimed at empowerment, breaking patterns of recidivism and of revictimization and stopping the vicious cycle of violence being passed down from generation to generation.
• The Center against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM) has the objective to ‘Make it visible’. With this motto, the CKM fights against sexual and criminal exploitation in the Netherlands. The CKM innovates, researches and puts issues on the political agenda.
• With our holistic and integral approach, we are successful in helping our clients become socially and economically independent and self reliant. Through our in-house social businesses (two bakeries and a sewing studio) in 2020, 61% of the girls and women who were in school got their diploma; 56% of the girls and women who had finished school started a new study; of the group looking for a job, 55% found paid work and 6% started volunteering.

As National Center of Expertise, Fier has a mission to be a leader: through research, the development of care programs and knowledge dissemination. At the moment we do this with incidental funding. We are striving for the government to contribute to this so that we have guaranteed basic financing. Fier - together with other care providers - is discussing this with members of parliament, ministries, municipalities and other authorities. Since it involves an adjustment of the current funding systems, it requires a lot of effort and perseverance. 

Our NGO function (CKM) is also part of the National Center of Expertise. The CKM aims to be both a critic of the system and an authoritative player in the field. The more authority the CKM has, the greater its impact will be. In order to achieve this in the next few years, we will work on improving our fundraising position and our visibility, in the business community and in politics. For Fier, crossovers with the business community are a new and challenging expedition, but we want to achieve success here in the coming years. We can certainly use the support and guidance from the Elevate Prize to reach these goals.

In 2015, care in the Netherlands was decentralized to the regional and local level. Policy and financing of care take place in 352 municipalities, 42 care regions and 31 regions where health insurers operate. As a result, there is little or no focus on nationally operating care providers. Fier focuses on a group of 'survivors' who need complex care that is not available locally or regionally. It is of great importance that scarce national specialism is embedded in our system. On the one hand to offer care to children, adolescents and adults who have had to deal with the most serious forms of violence; on the other hand because Fier spreads its expertise to regional and local providers. 

Fier struggles with the limitations of the current system and brings this up with care financiers, municipalities and the national government. In this process, we deal with resistance. How can we raise awareness and get better results? Having a fan base would help, as well as connecting influencers and people with authority to Fier. Also, how do we give substance to the crossovers with the business community? These are the areas where we could really benefit from being an Elevate Prize winner.

Everything we do at Fier is about inclusion, diversity and justice. Our holistic and integral approach is based on the conviction that every person deserves a place in society. We embrace everyone who falls or threatens to fall outside society. Six years ago we therefore started the National Support Centre for Extremism (LSE), to keep radicalized people and their families involved instead of pushing them out of society. I always step out to share this vision and inspire the business community and municipalities, by writing columns, TV appearances and podcasts. Within the organization, we work along core values that create and encourage inclusion, trust and openness, including these:

- We make a difference and take responsibility
- We are reliable
- We say what we do and do what we say
- We see each other and we respect each other
- We keep talking to each other and we are always developing
- We focus on sustainability in all aspects
- We work client-based from a holistic view

Within the organization we work with a 360 degree feedback system for our annual reviews. The directors also receive this feedback, both from partner organizations and from 25 employees within Fier.

In my life, I have developed myself extensively, both in practice and in theory. After years of experience with education by teaching at school, I started working for a University. There I developed my theoretical perspective, specifically in the field of social pedagogy. Subsequently, I worked for a national expertise institute for years where I focused on innovations and practical education. In 2005 I started as director at Fier where I made it a priority to unite all aspects: parenting, system therapy and education from a holistic vision. To offer help with the consequences of violence in dependency relationships and to prevent and stop this violence, Fier uses the following organizational principles (among others):

• social issues are the leading principles
• clients are central, Fier is attuned to their needs. We work from care concepts in which taking ownership of your life, self reliance and participating in society are key
• At Fier the content is always leading: managers and team leaders work with clients themselves, ensuring that management is always based on practice
• Organizational issues and issues concerning the (optimization of) care are widely discussed in the organization. Professionals are actively engaged to develop the organization

Violence is extremely destructive to the development of children and youth. As a result they usually have problems in all areas of life. That is why Fier offers help in all areas of life: integral and holistic. Otherwise, successes in one area are undermined by failures in another and victims of violence end up in a vicious cycle of problems and revictimization. The Dutch healthcare system, however, is highly fragmented and extremely bureaucratic. Therefore, most care providers work within one specific policy and funding framework, whereby victims have to go to a different care provider for each problem. Many care providers adapt what they offer clients to fit the system. Fier is a content driven organization and does not adapt. We stick to our ambitions because we put people, victims of violence, and their needs first. It takes guts, courage, resilience, perseverance and out of the box thinking year after year to stick to our ambitions and working method; to put people first instead of the system. I am always looking for solutions so that we are not determined by the system but we use the system to do what is necessary to heal and empower victims of violence.

Please find below a selection of public appearances, television appearances and vlogs I have been featured in:

Television:

Linda Terpstra bij Vandaag de Dag over het CKM - YouTube – opening of the Center against Child and Human Trafficking(CKM)

Mensenhandel; een onzichtbaar maar groot probleem - YouTube – interview on  human trafficking

"Pooier Lino P. liet vrouw steriliseren" - YouTube  – coverage of human trafficking and sexual exploitation (comments by Linda Terpstra after appr. 5 minutes)

FierVlog #2 - Verhaal Linda Terpstra - Tegenlicht Meet Up - YouTube - Linda’s story

Vlogs:

Koninklijke onderscheiding voor Linda Terpstra - YouTube - Linda Terpstra is knighted

Hart onder de riem van Linda Terpstra - Bestuurder van Fier - YouTube – motivational talk during Corona for Fier employees

Werkbezoek aan Casa Cuna, Aruba - YouTube - Work visit to Casa Cuna Aruba

Bynt fan 20 novimber 2014 - YouTube - Linda Terpstra about the book she wrote on people behind human trafficking

Linda Terpstra legt uit: Top integrale zorg - YouTube - Linda Terpstra explains Top Integral Care  

Public speech:

Linda Terpstra - ERVEN VAN TOEKOMST - FIER congres 25 september 2019 - YouTube - Speech at Fier congress

Interview:

Linda Terpstra over De Garaasje - YouTube - Interview about the Center against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM)

In addition to these appearances, I write a monthly column in a regional newspaper, in which I address current topics regarding voilence in dependency relationships.

In 2018 and 2019 I was elected one of the most influential women in the nonprofit sector in the Netherlands by Opzij, a leading national feminist platform.

At the moment we are looking for new investors to take the next step in the further development of our integral, holistic care vision. Specifically by setting up a Family Justice Center concept and creating crossovers with education, businesses and funds/philanthropy; by further developing online applications and online outreach programs; by helping solve social issues, increase participation and facilitate housing for vulnerable people. In short: by creating an all-inclusive society. All this will take place in the building we plan to realize next to our treatment center in Capelle (phase 2). Right now we are looking for partners who want to make the commitment to support us in phase 1 of the project. To this end, we are approaching various funds and partners from the business community. Winning the Elevate Prize would mean that a substantial part of the proposed budget for phase 1 is covered. In phase 1, the project will be focussed on the further development of our integral care concept, the integration of this vision with the Family Justice Center concept, making significant connections with partners in the business community, housing corporations and other helpful partners and alliances. For this, we have budgetted the following personnel costs:

Fier has a large number of partners in the health care sector in the Netherlands. Fier also partners with universities, colleges, municipalities and the government to build expertise on the problem of violence in dependency relationships, to develop the best possible and sustainable care and conduct research into its effects. We work closely together with the police and prosecutors to offer the right help at the right time. For the construction of our two buildings, the ‘Veilige Vestes’ in Leeuwarden and Capelle, we have entered into sustainable partnerships with the architect and contractor. They will also be our partners for the construction of our next building. We can also count on our partners from the European Family Justice Alliance (Milan, Antwerp and Iceland), and the Family Justice Center in Aruba. To build great things we need our partners; we cannot do this alone. 

We are also supported by many service clubs, who help us both financially and by sharing their knowledge and their network. For example, to help our clients find an internship or a job. Last but not least, Fier has a large volunteer force, who are always ready to support us and our clients and help us grow.