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INTERACTIVE SESSION A

City of Antwerp

One Family, One Plan

The City of Antwerp, Belgium One Family, One Plan

youth advocate programs, united states

YAP Inc. Community-Based Safety Initiatives

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc, United States, YAP Inc. Community-Based Safety Initiatives

government of the basque country department of equality, justice and social policies, spain

TRAPEZISTAK (Tightrope Walkers) Inclusion Programme for Young People without Family Support

Government of the Basque Country – Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies, Spain, Trapezistak Tightrope walkers

edenred europe, region of lombardy (italy), ministry of education (romania), ave romania, romania

Facilitating a Child’s Path to Education: Family and School Support

Edenred Europe, Region of Lombardy (Italy), Ministry of Education (Romania), AVE Romania, Romania, Facilitating a Child’s Path to Education: Family and School Support

ministry of migration and asylum, greece

National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM)

Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece, National Emergency Response Mechanism – Nerm

regional government of central denmark, denmark

De-escalation Conflict Management Workshop

Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark, De-escalation Conflict Management Workshop

INTERACTIVE SESSION B

pro arbeit kreis offenbach (aör), germany

Co-working Lab Workshop: Co-creation for Labour Market Integration

Pro Arbeit – Kreis Offenbach – (AöR) Municipal Job Centre, Germany, Co-working Lab Workshop: Co-creation For Labour Market Integration

genio

Embedding Peer Support into Service Design and Delivery Workshop

Genio, Ireland, Embedding Peer Support Into Service Design And Delivery Workshop

municipality of aarhus, denmark

Staircase to Staircase

Aarhus City Council – Department of Social Services, Denmark, Staircase to Staircase

carr gomm, united kingdom

Integrated Approach to Tackling Social Exclusion of People with Mental Ill Health

Carr Gomm, United Kingdom, Integrated approach to tackling social exclusion of people with mental ill health

barcelona provincial council, spain

Neighbourhoods and Communities: Engines of Social Transformation

Barcelona County Council, Spain, Neighbourhoods and communities: engines of social transformation

logoyt6y

BRUssels embraCEs you!

Introducing the digital ecosystem: BRUCE, an integrated platform that embraces the engagement and interaction of all Brussels citizens (residents, businesses, visitors and commuters) and simplifies access to government services through an omnichannel approach. BRUCE acts as a unique point of contact for government services, thereby fostering more participation, more autonomy, simpler processes, and leading to an optimised experience for end-users and employees.

One Family, One Plan

This project addresses the fragmented delivery of support to families and children facing complex challenges, including obstacles in accessing appropriate help, lack of coordination amongst providers, and an inability to address diverse needs. In response, the One Family One Plan partnership in Greater Antwerp seeks to enhance regional cooperation across sectors to ensure timely, continuous, and effective care for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25.

This initiative establishes a collaborative framework grounded in shared responsibility, fostering flexibility between community services and specialist youth support. Efforts include the establishment and expansion of multidisciplinary team collaborations to guide families and provide tailored care advice, promoting services and advising on care strategies. Despite challenges, there has been a noticeable increase in support requests, and the initiative is recognised for its potential to empower families, initiate interventions promptly, and prioritise preventive measures.

Room: Queen Elisabeth Hall

Organisation: The City of Antwerp, Belgium

Presentation Language: English, Dutch

Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Marijke Cassiers, Head of Department of Welfare Opportunities, City of Antwerp, Belgium
  • Els Van Parys, One Family, One Plan Project Coordinator, City of Antwerp, Belgium
  •  

YAP Inc. Community-Based Safety Initiatives

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) is dedicated to co-productively addressing violence in communities, particularly in high-risk areas. YAP’s holistic approach targets root causes like social and economic inequality. The organisation collaborates with the entire community, including youth, families, business and civic leaders, and law enforcement, to create personalised responses to improve individual and community wellbeing.

Learn about how community-based safety initiatives work and join us on a storytelling journey about the impact of the program on one young man named Que as told by special guest presenter Omar S. Douglas who walked alongside Que to restore, heal, and strengthen communities and the people who live there.

Room: Gorilla 3

Organisation: Youth Advocate Programs, Inc, United States

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Fred Fogg, National Director of Community Based Safety Initiatives, Youth Advocate Programs, (YAP) Inc., United States
  • Diana Matteson, Director of International Programmes & Development, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., United States
  • Peggy Cullen, Team Leader, Youth Advocate Programs, (YAP) Inc., United States
  • Omar S. Douglas, Director, Youth Advocate Programs, (YAP) Inc., United States

TRAPEZISTAK (Tightrope Walkers) Inclusion Programme for Young People without Family Support

The TRAPEZISTAK Programme addresses the vulnerability and risk of social exclusion faced by migrant young people without a family network. It implements a personalised support model through social inclusion pathways and intersectoral cooperation, serving as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to enhance the social inclusion and transition to adulthood of young people, most of them migrants, in the Basque Country. It offers administrative assistance, training for employment and language skills, job placement services, socio-educational programmes, community participation initiatives, and housing support.

The programme has shown positive outcomes, with 606 individuals assisted in the first half of 2023. Successes include high rates of municipal registration and health card acquisition, improved language proficiency, and access to housing. Participants also demonstrate proficient personal skills, healthy lifestyle habits, and strong social and community participation.

Room: Gorilla 1

Organisation: Government of the Basque Country – Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies, Spain

Presentation Language: Spanish, English

Interpretation Languages: Spanish, English

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Rafael López-Arostegui, Adviser on social policies, Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies, Basque Government, Spain
  • Eduardo Díaz Nieto, Head of EU Affairs, Technical Development Unit, Agintzari Social Cooperative, Bogan Group, Spain

Facilitating a Child’s Path to Education: Family and School Support

Education is a crucial element to build the future of our societies. Investments in this field are essential to allow all children to have access to decent and basic learning conditions. Creating a level-playing field for all pupils is needed to provide strong roots for better development of future generations.

This session will introduce three practices to facilitate a child’s path to education. The first two solutions propose, through the funding of national or regional public authorities, to support families with e-vouchers to access school material or food for children. The third solution targets schools directly through online workshops for school principals to help them access European funds and guidelines to prepare healthy meals in schools. These innovative, digital and transferable solutions have all the same objective: to provide children with the best conditions and environment for their development.

Room: Okapi 3

Organisations: Edenred Europe, Region of Lombardy (Italy), Ministry of Education (Romania), AVE Romania, Romania

Presentation Languages: English, Italian

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Delphine Chilese-Lemarinier, Head of EU Affairs, Edenred
  • Christian Comsa, President of the Association of Private Schools, Romania
  • Pietro Cristoferi, Public Affairs Specialist, Edenred Italy
  • Simona Tironi, Adviser, Lombardy Region

National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM)

The National Emergency Support Mechanism (NERM), established in 2021 to address the conditions to receive unaccompanied children in Greece, developed an integrated action plan to identify, trace and provide care for unaccompanied children. They also improved coordination among child protection agencies in Greece through common protocols, procedures, and referral pathways to transform the way the needs of unaccompanied children are now addressed.

Since then, NERM has handled 10,210 communications, referred 7,556 unaccompanied children, accommodated 4,281 children, completed 5,222 placements, and traced 67 unaccompanied children living homeless. Qualitatively, NERM’s interventions are recognised as best practice by the EU and international organisations such as the UN, the International Organisation for Migration or the EU Asylum Agency.

Room: Gorilla 4

Organisation: Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Alkis Souliotis, NERM Coordinator, General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection, EUAA, Greece
  • Ioanna Damdouni, NERM Legal Advisor, General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection, EUAA, Greece

De-escalation Conflict Management Workshop

In order to alleviate high turnover and burnout among social services staff in demanding roles, especially in the context of escalating conflict, the Central Denmark Region has designed workshops to prioritise the staff’s mental and physical well-being. During this session, delegates will participate in training exercises to learn techniques, strategies, and practical skills they can use in conflict situations, whilst acknowledging the emotional demands of social services work.

Participants will engage in realistic role-playing scenarios, experiencing simulated conflict situations that will allow them to learn and understand their reactions in a safe and supportive training environment, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by social services staff. The presenters aim to inspire participants through this hands-on approach, combined with collective reflection, to help them think about the implementation of a similar method in their own organisations.

Room: Okapi 2

Organisation: Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Workshop

Presenters:

  • Christian Barckmann, Psychologist, Division of Children and Youth, Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark
  • Morten Fjord, Senior Consultant, Division of Children and Youth, Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark
  • Gerda Aakerberg Klausen, Senior Consultant, Division of Children and Youth, Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark
  • Nikolaj Sørensen, Generel Leader, Division of Children and Youth, Regional Government of Central Denmark, Denmark
  • Steffen Nielsen, Actor, Denmark

Co-working Lab Workshop: Co-creation for Labour Market Integration

This programme targets the long-term unemployed, particularly those who have left education and are not in work or training (NEET). It aims to empower them through awareness raising, collaborative partnerships, individualised support, reduction of dependency, improved access to training and successful reintegration into the labour market.

During their session, Pro Arbeit will begin by highlighting successful best practices for long-term unemployed persons, stressing collaboration with beneficiaries, service providers, and policymakers. In the second part, the presenters will involve the audience in interactive exercises to simulate project implementation across agencies, fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration, and strategy replication. A co-working lab method, specifically designed to collaboratively develop new concepts will be used as the primary learning approach. By sharing successful organisational practices, the presenters aim to inspire other organisations to adopt similar strategies, thereby contributing to positive change within their communities, with a specific focus on enhancing support for long-term unemployed individuals.

Room: Gorilla 3

Organisation: Pro Arbeit – Kreis Offenbach – (AöR) Municipal Job Centre, Germany

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Workshop

Presenters:

  • Turker Saliji, Project Manager and Developer, Pro Arbeit – Kreis Offenbach – (AöR) – Kommunales Jobcenter, Germany
  • Amira Bieber, Head of Department European Project Management, Pro Arbeit – Kreis Offenbach – (AöR) – Kommunales Jobcenter, Germany

Embedding Peer Support into Service Design and Delivery Workshop

The use of lived experience is increasingly recognised as fundamental in social services worldwide, providing valuable cultural insight and knowledge while offering a unique perspective from people using services. In Ireland, especially with Peer Support, lived experience roles are acknowledged as essential for designing and delivering social services. Genio will present the different Peer Support Roles that that are incorporated regionally and nationally in Ireland, including across mental health services, in homelessness services, within the Irish Travelling Community and within the international protection system.

Addressing the needs of these populations requires nuanced approaches, with peer-led initiatives proving crucial. By sharing successful organisational practice, Genio will inspire other organisations to integrate lived experience into their organisational strategies.

Room: Gorilla 4

Organisation: Genio, Ireland

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Workshop

Presenters:

  • Michael Ryan, National Head of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery, Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Office (MHER), Ireland
  • Niamh Lally, Director, Action Research, Genio, Ireland
  • Lynne Cahill, Research Lead, Genio, Ireland

Staircase to Staircase

The ‘Staircase to Staircase’ programme addresses the multifaceted challenges encountered by vulnerable families in Gellerup, Aarhus. These challenges encompass high unemployment rates, limited education, health issues, and barriers to accessing support services. Through innovative family and employment initiatives, this programme aims to address long-term unemployment and dissatisfaction among Gellerup residents.

Activities include forming an interdisciplinary team to streamline support services, conducting outreach to families in vulnerable situations, and building trust through home visits. Positive outcomes observed include increased parental engagement in education or employment, reduced children school absences, and more adolescents participating in part-time after-school activities. Additionally, parents report better management of their health and well-being as a result of the programme’s interventions.

Room: Okapi 3

Organisation: Aarhus City Council – Department of Social Services, Denmark

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Case Study

Presenter:

  • Pernille Randrup Thomsen, Head of the Social Services Department, Aarhus City Council, Denmark
  • Saima Mustaq, Project Leader, Aarhus City Council, Denmark

Integrated Approach to Tackling Social Exclusion of People with Mental Ill Health

This programme addresses the social exclusion of people accessing mental health services, often presenting frequent readmissions to hospitals or living in isolation in the community. For instance, it provides early intervention and preventative support to individuals living with mental health conditions in the community while offering discharge support services to reduce repeat hospital admissions. Support Practitioners build relationships and trust with individuals, identifying key barriers and early support needs to ensure their support aligns with their expectations.

A support plan is co-created with the person, and this is flexible, so the person’s support can increase or decrease over time, as appropriate. Carr Gomm’s services have notably facilitated successful hospital discharges, addressed social barriers, and enabled positive transitions to community living. 76% of individuals experiencing successful discharge during the evaluation period received varying levels of support tailored to their individual needs.

Room: Gorilla 1

Organisation: Carr Gomm, United Kingdom

Presentation Language: English

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Kevin O’Donnell, Regional Operations Manager, Carr Gomm, United Kingdom
  • Asiya Sheikh, Service Manager, Carr Gomm, United Kingdom

Neighbourhoods and Communities: Engines of Social Transformation

This programme targets residents of neighbourhoods that experience high social vulnerability and residential segregation in 15 municipalitiess in the province of Barcelona, including Badalona, Cornellà de Llobregat, and Vilanova i la Geltrú. It focuses on addressing issues such as inadequate housing, limited public spaces, and weak community connections, which directly affect residents’ opportunities and rights.

The programme implements comprehensive initiatives fighting inequality, promoting equal opportunities, and enhancing social cohesion across neighbourhoods. By improving living conditions and fostering prosperity within neighbourhoods, the project aims to ensure social services maximise their transformative impact, local communities are strengthened, and new locally rooted initiatives are launched, with more engaged citizens and new networks developed.

Room: Queen Elisabeth Hall

Organisation: Barcelona County Council, Spain

Presentation Language: Spanish

Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch

Session Type: Case Study

Presenters:

  • Gemma Parera Alvarez, Technical Advisor, Barcelona County Council, Spain
  • Marta Solé, Manager of the Coexistence, Diversity and Life Cycle Service, Barcelona County Council, Spain

BRUssels embraCEs you!

Introducing the digital ecosystem: BRUCE, an integrated platform that embraces the engagement and interaction of all Brussels citizens (residents, businesses, visitors and commuters) and simplifies access to government services through an omnichannel approach. BRUCE acts as a unique point of contact for government services, thereby fostering more participation, more autonomy, simpler processes, and leading to an optimised experience for end-users and employees.

Join this session to learn how the Region of Brussels partnered with Microsoft to develop a citizen centric omni channel platform to support people to access services.

Organisation:

  • Microsoft
  • The City of Brussels, Belgium

Presentation Language: English  

Session Type: Case Study 

Presenters:

  • Mary-Odile Lognard, General Manager, i-CITY, Belgium
  • Raf Louis, Digital Process Factory, i-CITY, Belgium

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