Brussels, 17 September 2025 – Insights on Family Policies is a series published by the European Observatory on Family Policy, a joint initiative by COFACE Families Europe and Odisee Centre for Family Studies, presenting evidence in dossiers on integrated approaches to family support. The launch was followed by a two-day conference in Brussels that used the Observatory’s research as the basis for policy debate and practical workshops.
Explore the first three dossiers
The Observatory documents trends and brokers knowledge to integrate a family perspective into policymaking, advocating for enhanced cross-sectoral and interprofessional cooperation in providing household support across generations. The release includes three country dossiers examining:
- Italy’s integrated early childhood system;
- Flanders’ Houses of the Child (Huizen van het Kind);
- Germany’s Preventive Social Policies.
Conference in Brussels drew directly on the dossiers
On 25–26 September 2025, COFACE and the Odisee Centre for Family Studies convened the conference Breaking Silos, Building Futures: Policy Innovations for Integrated Family and Child Support in Brussels. The event brought together researchers, policy-makers, municipal leaders and practitioners to discuss how to translate the Observatory’s findings into integrated, place-based practice and policy. The conference programme, comprising a keynote roundtable and four interactive streams, used the dossiers as evidence and case studies to feed the debates.
- Stream 1 reimagined ECEC centers as community anchors, coordinating education, health, and social support;
- Stream 2 examined integrated service hubs to streamline access for families;
- Stream 3 tackled governance innovations to break silos in local prevention efforts;
- Stream 4 harnessed digital tools to bridge service gaps.
By bridging research, policy, and practice, the conference identified scalable solutions to build resilient communities where families thrive.
We invite you to explore these studies and join the conversation about building more equitable and responsive family support systems. You can follow the activities of the Observatory and stay updated on future initiatives and publications by signing up here.
Together, we can contribute to a more integrated and inclusive approach to family policy in Europe. For more information or to propose a contribution, contact Martino Serapioni, Research Programme Coordinator: mserapioni@coface-eu.org
