COFACE Families Europe

Life-long learning: Bringing the family perspective to the education field
2024-04-16 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Dublin
European expert meeting on families and life-long learning
16th April 2024
Dublin, Ireland
Read the key findings here.
See presentations from speakers below.

European context
The European Pillar of Social Rights puts a strong focus on education and lifelong learning, and namely on guaranteeing the right to quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successfully transitions to the labour market. The 2023 European Year of Skills agenda aims to raise awareness around skills and the need to improve and develop skills to address skills shortages, while also helping people to get the right skills for good quality jobs through reskilling and upskilling.
Advocacy and collaboration between education and social rights NGOs further supports equitable education. COFACE advocates for educational policies and initiatives that support the diverse needs of families, ensure educational equity, and foster a supportive learning environment for all types of families. It does this especially through its European Family Lab.
Objectives of the European expert meeting
This expert meeting brought together speakers from Ireland and Europe to help pave the way for family-centred education and learning systems. The expert meeting was an opportunity to:

Discuss the links between education and social rights
Spotlight the diversity of educational approaches by featuring professionals working with families in different EU countries, to share their insights on developing learning materials by-with-for families;
Build partnerships with key education stakeholders at national and European level

Working language: English
Participation on invitation only: NGOs representing families, policy-makers, and researchers.
See full programme in English
Resources
Read the key findings of the meeting here.
Presentations Session 1: Setting the scene. Bringing the family perspective in education: diversity of approaches

Beybin Elvin Tunç, Education Programme Coordinator, COFACE Families Europe
Andrea Lapegna, Deputy Director, Life-Long Learning Platform
Dearbhail Lawless, CEO, National Adult Learning Organisation of Ireland (AONTAS)

Presentations Session 2 The family perspective in education – country spotlights

Victoria Forget, Operational Assistant for life-long education, Ligue des Familles, Belgium
Rachel Cassen, Director, LEAP Ireland
Daniel Martinovic, President, Rainbow Families Croatia

Presentations Session 3 Opening up education to bring the perspectives of families

Dr. Justin Sinnott, Manager, Transformation Project Management Office, SOLAS-Learning works, Ireland
Dr. Antonia Torrens, General Manager, KMOP, Greece
Davide Muraro, Policy and Project Coordinator, European Association for the Education of Adults

Study Seminar on child abuse in the digital world
2024-05-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Zagreb, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
European Study Seminar on child abuse in the digital world
9.30-17.30, Wednesday 8th May 2024
Zagreb, Croatia
The Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Programme is one of the most comprehensive and innovative prevention programmes for child abuse in the world. The original CAP programme began to be implemented in the United States in 1978. The International Center for Assault Prevention (ICAP), founded in 1985, has expanded the programme to other countries around the world. This central organisation does not exist anymore, but the programme continues to be implemented in Regional Training Centres.
COFACE member, Step by Step Parents Association, is such a Regional Training Centre in Croatia where they train facilitators to implement the CAP programme. The CAP programme equips children with effective prevention strategies to reduce their vulnerability and exposure to various forms of violence. Additionally, it ensures better support for parents, legal guardians, and educators. The programme has several variants that are intended for children of different ages and needs: preschool, kindergarten, teenagers, and children with disabilities.
The aim of this study seminar was to learn more about the CAP approach in Croatia, exchange ideas with practitioners from other countries working also to prevent child abuse, assess together how to upgrade programmes to prevent child abuse online, and finally to build partnerships between family organisations and Safer Internet Centres.
In the afternoon, COFACE hosted a working group on safer internet with its members and partners.
Working languages: English and Croatian
See full programme here.
Speaker presentations

Gorana Hitrec, Step by Step Parents Association (Croatia), Spotlight on the CAP Programme in Croatia
Andreas Rentzis, KMOP (Greece), Presentation of Actions
Patricia Cardona Roca, Brave Movement (Spain), Prevention of child sexual abuse online: perspectives from European countries
Beatrijs Gelders, COFACE Families Europe, EU Developments Safer Internet
Vineeca Kuo, INHOPE, Fighting CSAM
Antoaneta Vassileva, Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre, Cooperation with Insafe and INHOPE network
Tomislav Ramljak, Croatian Safer Internet Centre, Introduction to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Amaia Echevarría, UNAF Spain, Safer Internet initiatives for families

Further links

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Education (CSAPE) Project
IWF Report: How AI is being abused to create child sexual abuse imagery
IWF Resource for parents: TALK Checklist
UNAF Campaign: Elige tu rol – Choose your role

State Of The European Union for families
2024-05-15 17:30 - 19:30
COFACE Meet&Connect event – 15th May 17.30-19.30

On 15th May from 17.30-19.30 in the Schuman area of Brussels, COFACE Families Europe invited friends to assess the results of the last 5-year mandate of the von der Leyen Commission and highlight some key messages ahead of the European elections.
This was also be the occasion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the International Year of Families.
COFACE Families launched its “State Of The European Union for families” assessment of the last 5-year mandate of the von der Leyen Commission and how it contributed to achieving eight specific outcomes for families. We also presented our #ActNow for Families of Today call to action, which comprises 10 specific actions that COFACE believe should be integrated into the EU’s 2024-2029 programme. Also available in Easy-to-read version here.
Last but not least, a COFACE song has been developed with the aim to push our message in a creative and engaging way.
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Background
In 2019, COFACE Families Europe mobilised voters locally through its member organisations (representing families of all types, without discrimination). A call was launched to the COFACE network to vote and speak out in May 2019 using 10 key values as a compass: non-discrimination, equal opportunities, empowerment, internet for all, social inclusion, sustainability, respect of human rights, solidarity, child well-being, accessibility.
Following the 2019 election of the new European Parliament and the publication of the European Commission’s political guidelines, COFACE Families Europe published its New Deal for Families of Today which is a list of key short-term demands (also available in Easy-to-Read language) to be achieved by the new European Commission from 2020-2024. They are to be seen as concrete steps to meet the long-term goals of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
These demands reflect the needs and challenges of families of today and call for a mix of European actions (policy, law, funding, benchmarking, innovation) to drive real change. These recommendations are addressed at EU-level policymakers in the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU, from whom we expect joint leadership to ensure tangible results for Europe’s citizens.
It is on this basis that we have assessed the work of the European Union’s work from 2019 to 2024, and how it contributes to achieving positive outcomes for families of today.

COFACE financial inclusion working group
2024-06-04 10:00 - 12:00
COFACE financial inclusion working group – online meeting

4th June 10-12.00 CET

This online meeting was open to COFACE members and partners working on financial inclusion matters. The objectives of the meeting are to connect EU actions to the local actions of civil society to support financial inclusion of families, provide an update on the actions of COFACE-Families Europe on financial inclusion, and provide an opportunity for members to share their activities related to financial inclusion. We were delighted to have representatives from Finance Watch with us.
Speaker presentations
Martin Schmalzried, COFACE Families Europe
Update on EU developments (covering the digital euro, open finance, payment account directive, personal insolvency). See Presentation.
Paul Fox, Finance Watch.
Reset Finance EU elections campaign. See Presentation.
Sonsoles Riviergo, Single-Parent Families Foundation Isadora Duncan.
Overview of programmes to support economic empowerment and financial literacy. See Presentation.
Further links
Which services are needed for financial inclusion? Finance Watch
Budget management tool, SPFF Isadora Duncan
Training on “What is money”?, COFACE Families Europe
Towards an economy which cares: Economic Principles. COFACE Families Europe
European Pillar of Social Rights – 20 principles, European Commission

Key tools for driving change towards parenting equality in Poland
2024-06-20 09:30 - 11:00
Key tools for driving change towards parenting equality in Poland
Date
20th June 2024 from 9.30-11.00 CET
Title
Key tools for driving change towards parenting equality in Poland
Speakers

Karolina Andrian is a founder and president of the Share The Care Foundation in Poland. Social entrepreneur in Femmeritum, and Board member of COFACE, she is an expert in the area of gender equality, DEI and parental equality.
Luis Lineo is actively involved in Sweden’s Feminist Initiative Party and works at the secretariat for the MenEngage Europe secretariat (MenEngage is a global network of civil society organisations working with men and boys for gender equality)

Description
This breakfast byte webinar was hosted on international fathers’ day to put the spotlight on men and care through a parenting equality lens.
The organisation Share The Care Foundation in Poland recently organised the second edition of their “Equal at home – Equal at work – A win-win for all” campaign on the occasion of the entry into force of the EU work-life balance directive in Poland. Their campaign aims to spark discussions and insights into whether the directive has indeed empowered individuals to achieve greater gender equality in the work and family life.
MenEngage Europe (a global network of civil society organisations working with men and boys for gender equality) responded to the Polish actions from their more global perspective, highlighting some key challenges and successes in relation to parenting equality.
The webinar was an opportunity to take a closer look at legal and policy tools, as well as company tools, support services and campaigns to support parenting equality, aiming to inspire other countries to support men in their caring roles and encourage take-up of family leaves.
Further information
Presentation of Karolina Andrian
Share the Care Foundation
Equal at Work – Equal at Home: A win-win for everyone!
MenEngage

Work-Life Balance Strategies in Family Policy
2024-09-25 08:00 - 17:00
Work-Life Balance Strategies in Family Policy
25th September 2024
Vilnius, Lithuania
Acknowledging the importance of work-life balance is crucial for maintaining personal well-being and mental health which encompasses various aspects, such as emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Therefore, a healthy work-life balance positively affects our personal relationships and helps coping with stress. This balance extends to family responsibilities, including care for both children and elderly family members.
Family care includes taking care of both children and older family members. According to 2019 Eurostat data, almost 90 million people in the EU have care responsibilities for children, and more than 12 million people in the EU take care of ill, elderly and/or disabled relatives. Work-life balance rights are being consolidated in public policy across Europe (in great part following the transposition of the EU work-life balance directive), and also increasingly in company policies which are building family-supportive workplaces.
The European Pillar of Social Rights puts a strong focus on work-life balance of parents and carers, with different initiatives to support families: legal frameworks like the EU work-life balance directive and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive; and policy frameworks like the European Care Strategy and the European Child Guarantee.
This European expert meeting
1. Explored the intersectional dimensions of work-life balance, considering how factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity intersect with family dynamics and mental health outcomes.
2. Promoted the integration of family-friendly working conditions, mental health services and family-friendly policies into organisational structures that best meet families’ needs.
3. Facilitated dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including employers, employees, policymakers, researchers, and community organisations, to develop comprehensive strategies for supporting family mental health in the workplace.
Working languages: English and Lithuanian
Full programme: English and Lithuanian.
Key findings: You can see the full meeting report here.
Resources
Presentations Session 1: Study session 1: The evolution of family policies in Europe

Willem Adema, Senior Economist, Social Policy Division, OECD
Silvija Stanić, Director, Parents Association Step by Step, Croatia
Teresa Roščinska, adviser of Horizontal Policy and Project Management Group, Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Lithuania

Presentations Session 2: 1000 days of parenthood and the mental load

Vytautas Peciukonis, Research Officer at European Institute for Gender Equality
Martino Serapioni, Research Programme Coordinator, European Observatory on Family Policy
Vilma Ražauskienė , Researcher at Institute Of Sociology At The Lithuanian Centre For Social Sciences

Presentations Session 3: Caring for the caregiver

Sylvia Van Walleghem, Researcher at KU Leuven in Magentaproject, Belgium
Sarah Loriato, Policy Officer on Employment and European Parliament Liaison, AGE Platform Europe
Sandra Norvilienė, Human Resources Manager, Employment Partner Retiva, Lithuania.

Presentations 4: Building family-supportive workplaces

Tina Weber, Research Manager, Eurofound
Marta Pompili, Policy Officer responsible for Gender Equality, EQUINET
Inga Ruginienė, President, The Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation

The role of local level prevention systems for implementing the European Child Guarantee
2024-10-09 10:00 - 17:30
The role of local level prevention systems for implementing the European Child Guarantee
9th October 2024
Berlin, Germany
The European Child Guarantee recognises the importance of using national and local policy levers to support its implementation through quality services for children in vulnerable situations. Municipalities and services are at the forefront of work to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. According to a report adopted by the European Parliament in November 2023, “more needs to be done to achieve a more comprehensive, intersectoral approach to tackling children’s risk of vulnerability and to ensure genuine implementation by removing the policy, political, administrative and financial barriers.” This aligns with recent developments in various European nations, where there is a growing focus on enhancing multi-agency collaboration across local service providers. These offer a wide range of early intervention support to families through a proactive, preventive approach, which can facilitate smooth transitions during times of stress or crises, such as poor health, financial hardship, or unemployment.
This expert meeting will:

Connect the European Child Guarantee recommendation to the local level, looking more closely at the impact of services on children and their families.
Explore different local service models across countries with a view to better understand what works and what does not.
Utilise the integrated family policy framework created by the European Observatory on Family Policy to facilitate discussions on potential approaches for the sector, in addition to developing an agenda for the years 2025 and beyond.

Working languages: English and German
Programme: English
Participation: Invitation only
Presentations
Session 1: Supporting parents and carers in the early years: effective models of intervention
Arianna Lazzari (University of Bologna)
Sandra Fischer (University of Bonn)
Kristien Nys (Odisee University)
Session 2: An international perspective on effective models of prevention
Jörg Fischer (Erfurt University of Applied Sciences)
Olivier Thévenon (WISE Centre – OECD)
Martin Lichte (European Social Network)
Session 3: Leveraging effective local prevention systems for implementing the European Child Guarantee
Jiří Švarc (DG EMPL – European Commission)
Martina Kottmann (Fed. Ministry of Family Affairs – Germany)
Hanna Vseviov (Ministry of Social Affairs – Estonia)

COFACE working group on transnational families
2024-10-15 10:00 - 12:00
COFACE working group on transnational families

15th October 2025, 10:00-12:00 CET – online
This working group meeting aimed to explore the impact of globalisation on family structures, identify the challenges faced by transnational families, discuss relevant EU developments, and promote collaboration among stakeholders to enhance support systems for these families.
Keynote speakers were

Attila Böhm, COFACE Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer
EU policy update on the recently adopted New Migration Pack
Viorela Ducu Telegdi Csetriu, PHD, Babes-Bolyai University and leader of WG4 of TraFaDy COST Network
Dynamics of families navigating the challenges of globalisation and transnationalism
Sven Iversen, COFACE Vice-President and chair of TraFaDy COST network

Working language: English
Format: Online
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Background
COFACE is member of the COST research network on Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe (TraFaDy), which aims to deepen the knowledge of the growing, rapidly changing phenomenon and dynamics of Transnational Families (TNF) by bringing together researchers and stakeholders from different disciplines and countries to address the need for transnational insights and to formulate policy and practice-oriented recommendations with an impact on international, national, sub-local and local practices. For this, the network closely monitors current trends in migration, technology and politics, and engage in an intensive dialogue with policy and practitioners, and, thus, address the need to deepen and broaden scientific and policy understanding of Transnational Families.
Globalisation profoundly reshapes social, economic, and political spheres, fundamentally altering family dynamics and giving rise to transnational families. These families, whose members are dispersed across multiple countries yet maintain a sense of familyhood, arise through various forms of migration, including economic migration (e.g., migrant domestic workers, caregivers, seasonal workers), forced migration (e.g., refugee families, unaccompanied minors), and other separations due to work, education, or lifestyle choices.
Migration is essentially a family matter, with family relationships, responsibilities, and ties playing a crucial role in migration decisions and experiences. Understanding the dynamics of transnational families is essential for social work and social welfare systems to address their complex needs effectively.

COFACE Disability platform - annual meeting
2024-10-24 08:00 - 17:00
COFACE Disability plaform – annual meeting
24-25th October 2024
Brussels, Belgium
The annual meeting of COFACE Disability took place in Brussels this year, focusing as always on the family dimension of disability rights. The meeting was hosted in the European Committee of the Regions. This year’s meeting brought together key stakeholders from the European institutions, including officials from the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, as well as major EU civil society organisations.
It served as a vital forum to exchange on the key concerns about family carers in the European Union and put forward proposals on how European frameworks can support families with disabled individuals and those in need of care through robust community-based intervention models at the local and regional levels.
Key topics also discussed were EU developments around the European Union Strategy for the Rights of Persons with disabilities and the European Care Strategy, as well as the right to respite, early childhood intervention, employment, accessibility, inclusive education and more.
The COFACE Disability platform outlined its key demands, aligning with the European Charter for Family Carers. The Charter was created by COFACE Disability to address the needs of family carers regardless of the cause of the individual’s support need (impairment, age, illness, accident, etc.). It is designed as a tool for sound policy to be consulted by decision makers, EU institutions, care services providers, organisations representing persons in need of care and their families within the European Union, as well as by local and regional authorities responsible for service provision and community support.
The 2024 reviewed European Charter for Family Carers is available in English and French, and Easy-to-read in English. See here.
Presentations
1.Spotlight on new COFACE Disability members from Belgium and Georgia
Margita Kortbeek, Parents for Inclusion (Belgium)
Maia Bibileishvili, Child, Family, Society (Georgia)
2.The rights of family carers to respite
Bénédicte Kail, APF France Handicap (France)
3.Employment of persons with disabilities
Gonçalo Solla, Fundaçao Liga (Portugal)
4.Early childhood intervention
Elisabeth Lammers, UNAPEI (France)
5.Accessibility and families with disabilities
Natalia Beraza, FIAPAS (Spain)

Family carers in Europe today: state of play
2024-10-24 09:00 - 12:00
European Round Table
When? 24th October 2024, from 9.00-12.00
Where? European Committee of the Regions, Room JDE51, 99-101 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Background

In the run-up to the 29th October UN international day of care and support, this European round table co-hosted by COFACE Disability and the European Committee of the Regions, fostered debate on the realities and support needs of family carers in the European Union today. It shed light on the role of European frameworks to support families with disabilities and/or in need of care through robust community-based intervention models at the local and regional levels.
It is on this occasion that COFACE Disability launched its reviewed European Charter for Family Carers, available in English and French, and Easy-to-read in English. See here.
Working languages: English and French
Full programme: English/French
Key findings: The report of the Round table can be found here.
Presentations
Sebastian Gonzalez, Policy and Advocacy Officer, COFACE Families Europe
Dovilė Juodkaitė, Member of the EESC and co-creator of the EESC opinion on Caregivers
Haydn Hammersley, Social Policy Coordinator, European Disability Forum
Mathilde Prilleux, Programme Assistant, European Social Fund + Community of Practice on Social inclusion
Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for social rights and Inclusion, DG EMPL, European Commission

Comms Webinar on Accessible and Inclusive Practices with Lila Sylviti
2024-11-05 10:00 - 12:30
COFACE Families Europe is pleased to invite its members and partner organisations to an upcoming online training on inclusive and accessible communications. The training will be given by Lila Sylviti, who specialises in accessible information, inclusive graphic design, and easy-to-read. You can find more info and samples of her work on her website: www.sayiteasy.eu .
The aim of the training is to:

Get a better understanding of what inclusion and accessibility means when it comes to communication and information.
Improve our skills in writing, design and using communications channels, like the website and social media, in a more inclusive and accessible way.
Empower communications professionals with information and practical tips.

Please note that this is an invitation-only event with priority access for COFACE members and its network.
Working language: English
For more information contact: Bettina Guigui bguigui@coface-eu.org.

Preventing institutionalisation of children: strengthening families and building community-based alternative care
2024-11-14 09:30 - 12:30
Preventing institutionalisation of children:
strengthening families and building community-based alternative care
14th of November from 9.30 to 12.30
Register here
On behalf of the European Expert Group on the transition from institution to community-based living (EEG), we are pleased to invite you to our annual study session: Preventing institutionalisation of children: strengthening families and building community-based alternative care that will take place on the 14th of November from 9.30 to 12.30.
Some of the main drivers of institutionalisation of children are a lack of community-based alternative care and the absence of preventative family support, accessible education and social services in the community. Children belonging to vulnerable families and disadvantaged groups and households, such as children with disabilities and Roma children, are particularly at risk when they and their families are not adequately supported.
This year EEG study session will provide examples of effective policies and practices of building community-based alternative care, early childhood intervention and family support and prevention services through Europe:

Preventing Child – Family Separation in vulnerable families (Spain)
Family-Centred Early Childhood Intervention (Portugal)
Developing Family-based alternative care (Poland).

The EU has been promoting the transition from institutional to family- and community-based care through EU policy and funds since more than a decade. Although the EU highly encourages its Member States to focus on providing community-based alternative care, early intervention, preventative measures and family strengthening, there is little sharing of good practices or guidance available for them on what this should look like, and which measures, services and systems can contribute to this goal.
The study session will highlight how the practices relate to EU policy and funds, in particular the European Child Guarantee. It will also explore how the EU Child Guarantee supports the development of such policies and practice, and how it can be further used to prevent institutionalisation and foster the wellbeing of children and their families. Each session will conclude with a Q&A to ensure participants can ask questions and share their feedback.
Full programme here.
Register here

Webinar: Care and support for families with hearing disabilities
2024-11-20 09:30 - 11:00
COFACE Breakfast byte webinar on World Children’s Day
20th November 9.30-11.00 CET
About the webinar
Speaker: Olga Corral, Advisor on accessibility, education and training at FIAPAS, Spain.
Topic: On 2024 World Children’s Day, this breakfast byte webinar will put the spotlight on supports to families with hearing disabilities, starting with a deep dive into a programme developed by FIAPAS (COFACE Disability member) in 1998. FIAPAS have a network of more than thirty Family Care and Support Services across Spain which are coordinated by professionals specialised in hearing disabilities and family support. They work closely with volunteers parents.
FIAPAS carries out the planning, coordination and monitoring of the actions and results of the network at national level to ensure that people with hearing disabilities and their families have information, guidance and support throughout the life cycle. Tools include a national internal communication platform, trainings, and coordinated actions in relation to the health, educational and social needs of families.
Additionally, through the analysis of the Network’s care data, FIAPAS uses this key data to guide social transformation and inclusion.
Join the conversation to learn more about this network in Spain and also to share your own practices and positions on family supports.
Resources
The full presentation of the webinar can be found here and the recording of the talk will be added to COFACE TV here.
Additional FIAPAS resources can be found at the links below:
https://bibliotecafiapas.es/
https://www.queloescuchetodoelmundo.com/
https://bibliotecafiapas.es/en/publication/hearing-accessibility-in-classrooms-and-educational-centres-2/
https://bibliotecafiapas.es/en/publication/hearing-accessibility-to-information-communication-and-learning/

Design Thinking for Inclusive Education: Connecting Families and Educators
2024-11-22 09:00 - 13:00
About the event
This event, co-organised by COFACE Families Europe & EAEA in the framework of 2024 Life-long learning week, will take place in the COFACE office on 22nd November in Brussels.
It will unite participants to explore how integrating the family perspective into education and training programmes can drive meaningful system change.
By addressing the key challenge of creating systemic change that supports both educators and families, this interactive workshop aims to encourage collaboration and innovative solutions.
Participants will collaborate using Design Thinking methods to generate actionable ideas for more inclusive education policies.
By focusing on the diverse needs of families and the challenges educators face, the workshop will cultivate a hands-on, collective environment where participants actively work together to identify solutions.
Through case studies, empathy exercises, and brainstorming sessions, attendees will co-create practical suggestions that strengthen both family engagement and educator support within the educational landscape.
Note that the workshop is FULL, and registrations are now closed.
For more information contact Beybin Elvin Tunç btunc@coface-eu.org
More about COFACE education work here.

Introducing the EU Guidance on Independent Living: Stakeholders' Initial Reactions
2024-12-11 14:00 - 15:30
Introducing the EU Guidance on Independent Living: Stakeholders’ Initial Reactions
Wednesday 11 December 2024 14h00 – 15h30 CET
Register here
INTERPRETATION: English, International Sign Language, Speech to Text in English
Background
The European Commission has launched its Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding. This Guidance is available in all EU languages here. It is the first time that the European Commission details its own understanding of independent living and how EU Funds can be used to foster the needed transformation of support.
The Guidance covers:

The EU’s practical understanding of independent living
Policy Orientations for the use of EU Funds
Transforming principles to actions
Support from EU Funds
Monitoring Progress

In response to the publication EASPD, EDF, Inclusion Europe, ENIL, COFACE Families Europe, and Eurochild invite you to a jointly organised online webinar on 11 December at 14:00 CET. This will be the chance to learn more about the new European Commission Guidance on Independent Living and how it can help you in the transformation of support at national, regional or local level.
Speakers

Antonia Torrens, COFACE Families Europe
Nadia Hadad, European Disability Forum (EDF)
Ines Bulic, European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)
Francesca Pisanu, Eurochild
Lilith Alink, European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)
Milan Šveřepa, Inclusion Europe

See full programme here.
Register here

COFACE working group on work-life balance
2025-01-21 09:30 - 12:30
COFACE working group on work-life balance
21 January 2025 9.30-12.30 CET
Register here

Objective of the working group
The aim of this working group is to bring together COFACE members working on work-life balance matters and disability rights, to kick-start a discussion on the work-life balance of parents and carers with disabilities. We will discuss relevant EU legislation, and collect information on challenges and good practices. This is an internal meeting, with some guest speakers. The working language of the meeting is English.

EU context
There are two pieces of legislation which are relevant for this discussion.
The EU directive on the work-life balance of parents and carers, and more specifically article 5.8 which states that “Member States shall assess the need for the conditions of access to and the detailed arrangements for the application of parental leave to be adapted to the needs of adoptive parents, parents with a disability and parents with children with a disability or a long-term illness.”
The Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation and more specifically Article 5 on Reasonable accommodation for disabled persons which states that “In order to guarantee compliance with the principle of equal treatment in relation to persons with disabilities, reasonable accommodation shall be provided. This means that employers shall take appropriate measures, where needed in a particular case, to enable a person with a disability to have access to, participate in, or advance in employment, or to undergo training, unless such measures would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer. This burden shall not be disproportionate when it is sufficiently remedied by measures existing within the framework of the disability policy of the Member State concerned.”
Please note: This meeting is open to COFACE members only.
For further information, contact secretariat@coface-eu.org
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EU Policy Webinar on the implementation of the European Care Strategy
2025-02-04 09:30 - 12:00
EU Policy Webinar on the implementation of the European Care Strategy
4th February 2024
Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu referred to a European Care Deal in her confirmation hearing on 12th November 2024, highlighting the “importance of supporting all types of families, including single mothers.” She explained that her approach prioritises addressing the burden of care. She acknowledged that while caregiving can be a labour of love, for many people it is a significant burden, particularly in terms of intergenerational responsibilities. This includes the younger generation caring for their elderly relatives, as well as women who often carry the majority of caregiving responsibilities without recognition or protection, and without pay.
Background
Following a proposal of the European Commission for a European Care Strategy, EU Member States adopted two Council Recommendations: one on early childhood education and care, and one on long-term care.[1] The actions taken under both Recommendations are being monitored through different mechanisms and tools.
COFACE advocates for professional care services across the life cycle to help families reconcile their work and family responsibilities.[2] This is essential to help families manage different work-family transitions such as the birth of a child, a major change in employment status of one or both parents, children’s transition through the education and later the employment system, special needs of a family member and care given for older family members. The visibility of family carers and their essential support and care to their family members, sometimes with no professional support, is also highlighted through the European Charter for Family Carers.[3]
To support the implementation of the European Care Strategy, COFACE has been monitoring its development closely with the help of an alliance of European civil society and trade union organisations active in the field of care.[4]
Objectives of the EU policy webinar
This webinar brought together speakers from the EU institutions, and participants from different fields and backgrounds in order to:

Discuss tools for monitoring and evaluation of the European Care Strategy implementation;
Share knowledge from national and EU level in order to strengthen the policy and funding levers to boost implementation.

Working language: English
Participants: COFACE members, EU and national policy-makers, European funding authorities, European and international NGOs.
Full programme here.
Speakers

Mary Daly, University of Oxford, Joint Coordinator of the rEUsilience research project (Presentation)
Greet Vermeylen, Team leader, Gender equality unit, DG JUST, European Commission
Jiri Svojse, Seconded National Expert, Social Protection Unit, DG EMPL, European Commission
Maria Calle Garcia, Chair of the Indicators Sub-group of the Social Protection Committee (Presentation)
Christian Morabito, Member of the Network of Experts working on the Social dimension of Education and Training (Presentation)

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[1] 2022 Council Recommendations on early childhood education and care: the Barcelona Targets for 2030
2022 Council Recommendation on access to affordable high-quality long-term care
[2] Families on the Edge: Building a comprehensive European Work-life balance reality, COFACE 2017
[3] COFACE Disability, European Charter for Family Carers (2024 review)
[4] Joint statement: Time for a European Long-term care platform, 2024

Resources

A European Care Strategy for caregivers and care receivers
2022 Council Recommendation on access to affordable high-quality long-term care
SPC Annual Report 2024 EC-SPC report on long-term care, 2021
ECE Thematic report review: application of EU labour law to the access for domestic workers to labour and social protection: An analysis of policies in 34 European countries
Addressing knowledge gaps in relation to the LTC workforce
LTC sector Social innovation projects on long-term care
Long-term care page on EUROPA: the list of national LTC coordinators/contact points, mutual learning reports, studies, etc.
Indicators Sub-Group of the EU Social Protection Committee
Polish presidency informal education council on inclusive education in January 2025, which focused partly on ECEC
The 2nd wave CARE survey of the European Institute on Gendeer Equality was carried out in 2024, and data will be released soon.The survey engaged over 60K respondents across the EU. The 1st wave survey microdata is available on GESIS open data portal. The selected list of indicators is published on EIGE’s Gender statistics database.
Monitoring and Benchmarking frameworks in the field of employment, social affairs and inclusion

COFACE online exchange on blended families of today
2025-03-12 11:30 - 12:30
12th March 11.30-12.30
This exchange was organised for COFACE members to take stock of challenges for blended families.
Blended families, also known as stepfamilies or recomposed families, are increasingly common across Europe due to rising rates of divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation. These families typically consist of a couple and their children from previous relationships.
Blended families in Europe reflect broader societal changes. While challenges persist, increasing legal recognition and societal support are helping normalise and strengthen these family structures.
Keynote speakers
Annemie Drieskens, Gezinsbond (Ligue of Families), Belgium Heidi Karvonen, The Stepfamily Association of Finland (Supli)
Professor Angela Abela PhD Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Malta

Key points discussed

Definition & Prevalence of Blended Families
Emotional challenges of step families
Financial difficulties they face the reasons for this
Legal gaps and policy recommendations
Support programmes in Finland
International perspectives and research

Resources

Family Cabinet Flanders (Belgium): The Family Cabinet The Family Cabinet project focuses on the questions and needs of families in order to work with families to find solutions to current problems and bottlenecks that families are facing.
Step Families of Finland: https://supli.fi/en/
rEUsilience research which discusses the inadequacy of EU social surveys to capture family relations across households
1st International Conference on blended families: 1st International Conference on Strong Blended Families: Understanding What Works – Newspoint – University of Malta
How are large families formed? Blood and step families with three or more children in Hungary

COFACE working group on safer internet
2025-04-08 08:00 - 2025-04-09 12:30 | Helsinki, Finland
Background
For children and their families, the digital and physical world are seamlessly connected. Parents and carers have a key role to play in guiding their children through the digital environment and in making sense of both positive and negative experiences. This role should be recognised and supported through a strong regulatory framework, ongoing dialogue and sharing of experiences between parents/carers and children, awareness raising and evidence-based support and prevention measures. Children’s exposure to harmful risks online should be reduced without compromising their opportunities to benefit from the positive impact of digital technologies. Families are diverse and need a wide range of support measures from different policy areas, such as social, family, health, education and digital policies.
Objectives of the working group meeting
The aim of this working group meeting will be to find intersections between family, education and digital policies, to address key digital challenges for families of today, and to build stronger partnerships between family organisations, Safer Internet Centres and other stakeholders. We will discuss key topics include EU legislative developments, digital parent support, sharenting and child rights, parental control tools and preventing child sexual abuse online, artificial intelligence, cyberbullying and more.

Resources

COFACE Digitalisation principles
COFACE policy brief on supporting families in the digital era
Digital well-being in childhood. Research and policy perspectives from Finland – Vaestoliitto
Overview of the work of KAVI in Finland – National Audiovisual Institute
OPINION – Sharenting: exercise of parental rights or infringement of privacy?
Belgian Presidency of the EU: Content with conscience Conclusions | Vlaanderen.be
France aims to protect kids from parents oversharing pics online – POLITICO
European Parliamentary question | Sharenting: safeguarding children’s privacy | E-000998/2024 | European Parliament
BEE SECURE Radar Report in Luxembourg (French and English)

Learning materials

Better Internet for Kids portal – Learning corner for families (in all EU languages)
E-learning course on school bullying management – L.I.N.K. course for teachers and educators (in English and Greek)
Spain: Resources for parents and caregivers Recursos para familias (Incibe)
Belgium: How to choose a trusted adult? Childfocus MAX (in Dutch and French)
Finland: Insights from Parents and Caregivers of Child Victims of Online Sexual Abuse Project Children
Luxembourg: AI and Online Safety BEE Secure (in German and French)
Finland: Media Education
Finland: New warning website targeting parents and raising awareness about harmful and dangerous social media trends
Finland: AI abyss video
France: Vinz et Lou– A printable escape game for families (in French)
France: Mon Moment Écran – My Screen Time (In French and English)
France: Stop La Violence – A serious game that raises awareness about bullying and cyberbullying in a fun, impactful way (In French and English)

COFACE working group on financial inclusion
2025-04-15 10:00 - 12:00
COFACE working group on financial inclusion
15th April 10.00-12.00 CET
Objective of the working group
The objective of this working group is to bring together COFACE members and partners working on financial inclusion, to discuss EU developments and exchange information on key national trends.
Participants
This working group is for members only, as well as some key partners like Finance Watch and the European Consumer Organisation.
Topics on the agenda
Personal insolvency, overindebtedness, consumer protection, open finance.
Resources
Personal Insolvency: Does Europe Need Harmonised Rules? | Finance Watch
Framework for financial data access | European Commission (new proposal of the Commission under discussion)
Financial literacy and education for Europeans | European Economic and Social Committee (opinion under preparation)
Digital euro | European Central Bank (technical pilot phase to test feasibility)
A Strategy to Foster Citizens’ Wealth and Economic Competitiveness in the EU | European Commission (Financial literacy strategy planned for end 2025)
Single Currency Package | European Commission (proposals to support the use of cash)
European Pillar of Social Rights (see principle 20 on access to essential services)
Union of Skills | European Commission (Commission proposal including focus on financial skills and literacy)
Financial Services User Group

European expert meeting on work-life balance
2025-05-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Warsaw, Poland
Equal at Home – Equal at Work
How to effectively support mothers and fathers in balancing family and work life?

21st May 2025 – Warsaw, Poland
Balancing work and family responsibilities is a growing challenge across Europe. According to a 2018 Eurobarometer survey, even before COVID-19, a quarter of Europeans reported difficulties in taking family leave, with over 27% feeling discouraged from doing so by their supervisors. Additionally, one in three Europeans lacks access to flexible work arrangements, emphasizing the need for systemic support. Families require robust support structures to manage work-life balance effectively. This can be achieved through well-defined public social protection policies – such as job security, health benefits, and inclusion initiatives – as well as supportive workplace policies, including zero tolerance for discrimination, flexible work options, and equal access to family leave for both men and women. Addressing these needs from both angles is essential to creating a caring economy that benefits families, businesses, and society as a whole.
Why this matters
COFACE advocates for inclusive, family-supportive workplace cultures built on equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and a recognition of family diversity. Today’s families are diverse—single parents, same-sex couples with children, blended families, large and multigenerational households, families with disabilities, and more. Transforming organisational culture to support all workers, regardless of family structure, benefits the entire organization. Such cultural shifts contribute to a more attractive and inclusive workplace, helping businesses retain diverse talent and motivating employees.
Context and Policy background
The meeting will draw upon key European policies and legislation, including the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, the European Care Strategy, European Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, the EU Gender Equality Strategy, and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. These frameworks offer significant potential to foster family-friendly workplaces across Europe.

Meeting objectives

Highlight Key Research: Present studies on current workplace challenges and opportunities for support.
Engage Employers and Policymakers: Facilitate discussions between employers, employer organizations, policymakers, and NGOs to address challenges and explore effective solutions.
Workshop Practical Solutions: Conduct hands-on sessions to identify actionable steps for fostering a family-supportive workplace culture.

Key topics to be addressed during the meeting

Engaging Men in Parental Equality: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Support
Centering Families in Social Policy Amid Declining Fertility Rates
Attracting Mothers Back to the Workforce: Policies and Perceptions that Drive Success
Crafting Inclusive Family Campaigns: Engaging Diverse Audiences in the Workplace and Public Sphere
Does the Partnership Family Model Support Fertility?

Programme and practical information

Full programme here in English.
See further information here about the conference.
The livestream of the plenary in the morning can be followed here in English and Polish.
Presentations: Jasmin Thomas (OECD), Elizabeth Gosme (COFACE).
Conference video summary in English and Polish.
2025 Share The Care & ZUS report on Parental Equality in Poland in a broader socio-economic context.
Read the full meeting report here

Empowering children and youth from single and one-parent families in North Macedonia
2025-06-02 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
Date
Monday 2nd June 2025, 9.30-11.00 CET
Speaker
Elena Bozhinovska, President. Youth of Diverse Families, North Macedonia.
Responses:

Anna Nagy, Director, Single Parents Foundation, Hungary
Yolanda Arias, Observatory coordinator, Isadora Duncan Single-parent families foundation, Spain

Description
Youth of Diverse Families is a voluntary, professional, non-profit organisation for young people, with a mission to promote gender equality and sensitivity, as well as the rights of young people, with an emphasis on children and youth from single and one-parent families. The vision of the organisation is a contribution to the strengthening of youth capacities and the inclusion of young people from socially marginalised groups in public life and youth policies.
Using a two-generation approach, the speaker gave an overview of single and one-parent families in North Macedonia, and highlighted different campaigns and services they are developing to improve the legal framework and rights of youth from diverse families. You can see the presentation here. They referred to definitions used and the difference between single and one-parent families, describe the types of measures they are advocating for (access to education scholarships, allowances, childcare, legal assistance and more) and highlight recent advocacy wins in North Macedonia.
We also discussed the situation in other countries, namely comparing the situation in North Macedonia with policies for single parent families in Serbia and Bosnia (based on a recently published comparative study), and with responses from single parent families in Hungary and Spain (click here to read the reflections here from the Yolanda Arias).
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Further information
Youth of Diverse Families, North Macedonia
Single parents foundation, Hungary
Isadora Duncan Single parent family foundation, Spain

Webinar: The serious issue of Play - How to foster connections and well-being in an increasingly fragmented world
2025-06-11 16:00 - 17:30
International webinar co-hosted by
COFACE Families Europe and Mattel
On the 11th June 2025 from 4 PM – 5.30 PM CET (Brussels time) and on the occasion of the International Day of Play, this webinar explored how play can help future generations to rebuild connections and restore happiness. Play is a recognised universal right (UNCRC Article 31), but is also a critical pathway to well-being, connection, and creativity. This is especially relevant in our increasingly disconnected and stressful lives.
The webinar gathered key stakeholders from United Nations, European institutions, national decision-makers, civil society and industry, in a discussion about the benefits of play for children and families. The event will mark this second edition of the UN International Day of Play.
Panel
Moderated by Elizabeth Gosme, Director at COFACE Families Europe
Speakers
1. Marie-Cécile Rouillon, European Commission coordinator on the Rights of the Child
2. Bertrand Bainvel, Representative to EU Institutions, UNICEF
3. Willy Bergogné, Director, Save the Children EU
4. Chris Down, Chief Design Officer, Mattel
Key questions and points of discussion

What is the best place to look for a collection of research publicly available that explores how play (and what kind of play) improves cognitive, mental and social development in children?
Who have you seen as the main creators and facilitators of play across your experiences and research, educators, parents, other children, institutions, etc? Put differently who do you feel is the most impactful recipient of right to play advocacy?
Playful approaches can also help ‘teach’ children to be inclusive towards their peers with different abilities
I have a question about plays that could help to identify mistreatment of children or abuse. Have they been developed? either for families or for schools?
The EU is a very strong supporter of Education in Emergencies. To ensure quality education play can make a huge contribution to child development. How do we ensure with so many priority to keep this focus?
Just sharing our approach with single parent families in Scotland: we regularly hold our get ready for summer event to promote low or no costs activities during summer holidays e.g scavenger hunts puddle jumping particularly important for families impacted with poverty.
For small children play is actually the way they learn almost everything. Play is therefore crucial and it doesn’t take any sophisticated toys, free play is really the best way to learn and develop for this age group.
Very interesting views indeed on the fundamental role that playing has on the development of almost every aspect of children’s lives. I also think we all really need it at any age for improving our everyday quality of life, by looking at things through the eyes of children!
It was very good to hear from everyone, including from Bertrand about the efforts to challenge stereotyping and increase diversity in toy marketing and on packaging, the important studies mentioned from Chris at Mattel, and the diversity represented in the Mattel lines. At Let Toys Be Toys we feel it is so important not to limit children’s access to play with barriers like outdated gender stereotypes, and to be as inclusive as possible in all ways.
For children, they will naturally play provided they are given the time and the space
Play can also be empowering for children or adolescents to also design or organise games or plays involving peers…challenge rules and create new ones!

Resources shared during the webinar

Study by Mattel on the Shape of Play
Save the Children Resource centre
Family nest model in Estonia – Perepesa

Online study session: Preventing institutionalisation through EU Funding – the role of the new MFF
2025-06-17 14:00 - 16:00
Online study session: Preventing institutionalisation through EU Funding – the role of the new Multiannual Financial Framework
As part of the European Expert Group on the transition from institutional to community-based living (EEG), we are pleased to invite you to our annual Study session: Preventing institutionalisation through EU Funding – the role of the new MFF.
The event will take place online on 17 June 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00 CET.
You can register here.
Despite long-standing commitments, over 1.5 million people in Europe remain in institutions, often due to the lack of accessible, community-based services and preventative support for families. While EU funds have supported major progress in some countries—such as closing institutions and developing personal assistance and housing services—challenges persist. In some cases, EU funding has even contributed to maintaining institutional settings.
The study session will focus on three key areas:

misuse of EU funds that have prolonged institutional care,
positive national practices in redirecting funding toward independent living (with a case from Bulgaria),
and the need for strong monitoring systems to track the use and impact of EU investments.

The aim of this study session is to discuss how EU funding under the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) can better support the transition to community-based care for persons with disabilities, children, and people experiencing homelessness—ensuring that reforms are rights-based, data-driven, and aligned with EU policy commitments such as the Guidance on Independent Living and the European Child Guarantee. It aims to bring together EU and national policy-makers, managing authorities, civil society organisations, service providers, and people with lived experience to explore how EU funding can be used more effectively to prevent institutionalisation and support inclusive living.
See the full programme here and further information on the EEG’s website.

COFACE working group on climate change and families
2025-07-08 14:00 - 15:30
COFACE Families Europe is organising an internal working group meeting on climate change and families at 14.00 on 8th July.
We will discuss the potential impacts on families of both the climate change and the measures mitigating them. We will also discuss key target groups and recommendations.
This meeting is open to COFACE members only.
Register here.

Round table on the role of EU policy in shaping inclusive labour markets
2025-09-04 10:00 - 12:30
PATHS2INCLUDE and the Civil Society Organisations’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) are co-hosting a Policy round table to discuss the role of EU policies in shaping inclusive labour markets on 4 September 2025.
The round table will focus on PATHS2INCLUDE research findings highlighting contextual factors determining labour market inclusion and the intersections of health and age which create labour market vulnerabilities. Together with participants from institutional and non-institutional stakeholders working at EU level, it will consider how these findings can feed into different EU policy initiatives. The aim will be to:

Connect EU policy makers working on inclusive labour markets from different perspectives (inclusion, employment, discrimination, social dialogue, CSR) at EU level;
Highlight some points of vulnerability emerging in the research, reflecting on how these depend on the interaction between individual characteristics and the structural features of the context in which people live.
Explore different European labour market scenarios, including the potential impact of reducing the gender employment gap in terms of poverty reduction and increased fiscal space.
Discuss how different EU policy and legal frameworks can provide potential solutions to these vulnerabilities and scenarios.

The outcomes of the round table discussions will feed into a PATHS2INCLUDE policy brief, aimed at institutional and policy stakeholders, focusing on best practice for inclusive labour markets, namely contextual factors and how they shape inclusive labour markets.

Online exchange with COFACE members on social media bans
2025-09-05 13:30 - 15:00
Online exchange with COFACE members on social media bans
5 September 2025 13.30-15.00
You might probably have heard it already, but more and more governments are calling for social media bans/clear age restrictions/a digital age of majority. These discussions also take place at a European level in the European Parliament.
We would therefore like to organise an exchange with COFACE members to hear your different views and expertise related to this topic, and to understand the different developments in Member States.
This meeting is for COFACE members only. Please register here to join the exchange and share updates about developments in your country!

Breaking Silos, Building Futures: Policy Innovations for Integrated Family and Child Support
2025-09-25 08:00 - 2025-09-26 17:00 | Brussels, Belgium
Brussels, 25-26 September 2025

The conference objectives and core themes
Co-hosted by COFACE Families Europe and the Odisee Centre for Family Studies in Brussels, this conference convenes researchers, policymakers, public administrators, and NGOs to advance integrated, place-based strategies that strengthen family resilience and equity through systemic service coordination. Centering on policy levers that empower municipalities and amplify early investments, the event will explore how cross-sector collaboration enhances service quality and maximizes long-term societal returns.
The program features a keynote roundtable followed by four interactive streams, each structured as workshops to foster debate and cross-fertilization of ideas. Stream 1 reimagines ECEC centers as community anchors, coordinating education, health, and social support. Stream 2 examines integrated service hubs to streamline access for families. Stream 3 tackles governance innovations to break silos in local prevention efforts, while Stream 4 harnesses digital tools to bridge service gaps.
Core themes include:

Strengthening local ecosystems: Municipal leadership, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable funding as key resilience levers.
Systemic coordination for quality: How aligning housing, health, and education services improves efficacy and equity in service provision.
Scaling what works: From Flanders’ Huis van het Kind model to Estonia’s digital platforms, showcasing actionable frameworks for replication.

By bridging research, policy, and practice, the conference will identify scalable solutions to build resilient communities where families thrive.
Context and background
The European Observatory on Family Policy is a joint programme of COFACE Families Europe and the Center for Family Studies. It aims to serve as a platform for the observation, analysis, and dissemination of evidence on family policy and other social concerns directly relevant to family well-being across the European Union.
The Observatory brings together different perspectives on family resources and needs from a range of public policy, research, and advocacy contexts. It strives to integrate these viewpoints into a unified theoretical framework, and to design suitable recommendations for policymaking at EU, national, and local levels. Key outputs include a European monitoring report published in 2024 Towards greater family policy integration in Europe and in 2025 a Factsheet on the Childcare gap in the European Union.
The starting point for the Observatory is human rights, gender equality, social inclusion, diversity, empowerment, and intergenerational solidarity, with a stated ambition of promoting policies which support all types of families, without discrimination.
Programme
See full programme here.
On 25th September we will kick off with a plenary debate, and then divide into four streams of work throughout the day focusing on:
1.Expanding the boundaries of ECEC: This stream will examine the expanding role of early childhood education and care services, analysing how their mandates are broadening to include parental support. The morning session will explore leadership challenges and local innovations, focusing on North Rhine-Westphalia’s pioneering certification model for ECEC centres transitioning into Familienzentren. The afternoon session will investigate how ECEC centres can serve as anchors for multidisciplinary local service networks.2.Integrated family support models: The stream will focus on multidisciplinary support models for parents with young children, showcasing international examples of co-located, intersectoral services. Case studies include Flanders’ Huizen van het Kind, now a decade-old initiative; Estonia’s family nests; Save the Children Italy’s Poli millegiorni centres; and Bulgaria’s Tulip Foundation family centres3.Prevention through cross-sectoral collaboration: The stream will approach cross-sectoral collaboration through the lenses of prevention and nurturing care, emphasizing cooperative networks rather than centralized hubs. Discussions will highlight Germany’s Fruehe Hilfen networks and Praeventionsketten, examining their impact from a prevention perspective. A second panel will explore collaborative strategies to prevent child institutionalization through nurturing care frameworks.4.Innovations for equitable family support: The stream will address digital innovation as a tool for equity, presenting platforms that improve access to family support services. Finland’s SOTE reform will be discussed, including its digital family centres under the new “wellbeing service counties” administrative model. Estonia’s Prevention Council and automated data-sharing mechanisms for families with disabled children will also be examined, illustrating how technology can streamline benefits/service delivery.
On 26th September, we will organise a site visit to the Elmer house in Brussels. As a ECEC neighbourhood service, Elmer organises social day-care (3 months – 3,5 years) and has 4 branches in the most underprivileged areas of the Brussels Region. Elmer aims to reach a socio-cultural mix of families living in the neighbourhood and focuses especially on vulnerable families. In total Elmer has a capacity for 190 children. Each year we count more than 400 children in our daycare services. Elmer enables the wellbeing of each child, offers rich opportunities to develop and stimulates connectedness. Parent participation is a keystone in the work of Elmer. The parents are the first educators, together we are co-educating the children. Elmer aims to work on social participation of parents and organizes opportunities for young parents to meet and share experiences in education. In the neighbourhood, Elmer is an active partner in common activities. In Schaarbeek, Elmer also organises a family centre as an integrated service. We combine preventive family support, medical prevention in the early years, educational activities for children and parents, guidance on education, social participation and language development, with childcare. The family centre reaches over 500 families each year. As centre for inclusion, Elmer gives particular attention to children with special needs and supports their families. Elmer combines the ECEC-service with employment and training of educators – often recruited out of the group of parents. The team of Elmer is very diverse, as are the children and their families.
Resources
Presentations Keynote panel

Wim VAN LANCKER, KU Leuven
Christian MORABITO, Save the Children
Mara YERKES, Utrecht University
Olivier THÈVENON, OECD

Presentations Stream 1: EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF ECEC

Geraldine LIBREAU, European Commission
Hester HULPIA, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences
Sandra FISCHER, University of Bonn
Elizabeth SHUEY, OECD
Mihaela IONESCU, International Step by Step Association
Anne LAMBRECHTS, Elmer

Presentations Stream 2: INTEGRATED FAMILY SUPPORT MODELS

Tine ROMMENS, Opgroeien Agency & Ivan PAUWELS, Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities
Luciano MALFER, FBK Foundation
Maarja OVIIR-NEIVELT, Lapseheaolu
Maria PETKOVA, Tulip Foundation

Presentations Stream 3: PREVENTION THROUGH CROSS-SECTORAL COLLABORATION

Ivelina BORISOVA, & Sanja BUDISAVLJEVIC, UNICEF
Jörg FISCHER, Erfurt University
Christina WIEDA, Bertelsmann Foundation
Debora SANGUINATO, Save the Children
Giorgio TAMBURLINI, Centro per la Salute delle Bambine e dei Bambini
Paola MILANI University of Padua

Presentations Stream 4: INNOVATIONS FOR EQUITABLE FAMILY SUPPORT

Rense NIEUWENHUIS, Stockholm University
Maria Kaisa AULA, Welfare area of Central Finland
Marina WETZER-KARLSSON, Väestölitto – the Family Federation of Finland
Hanna VSEVIOV, Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs
Claudia PERONI, Eurofound

COFACE Disability platform - online exchange
2025-10-07 13:00 - 14:30
On 7th October from 13.00-14.30, we will hold an online meeting of the COFACE Disability platform to consult family carers on two matters:

Learning resources for family carers
Inclusive education practices across Europe

The aim of this exchange is to bring together COFACE members to kick-start a discussion on the development of a European educational resource designed for informal carers of persons with disabilities, and to discuss actions to promote inclusive education at the European level. The objective of the discussion is to gather members’ views, provide a platform for sharing experiences, and better understand the situation across different countries. This is an internal meeting open to COFACE members only.
The working language of the meeting is English.
You can register here. We hope to see you on 7th October!

Breakfast Bytes webinar: Family Education to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
2025-10-08 09:30 - 11:00 | Online on Zoom
Date: 8 October 2025, 9.30-11.00 CET
Speakers:

Silvija Stanic, Parents Association Step by Step, Croatia
Elli Kaplani, KMOP, Greece

Description:
The aim of this breakfast byte was to share existing tools and resources on preventing child sexual abuse, especially for parents and guardians, but also professionals and children themselves. During the webinar we touched upon good practices and challenges to support families in preventing child sexual abuse. The work of two COFACE members was spotlighted, but the aim was to also gather examples and expertise from other organisations and experts. Every child has a right to grow in a safe environment and enjoy the best possible health, which includes well-balanced sexual health. To acquire well-balanced sexual health, children need evidence-based sexual education already from early childhood. Sexual education that is started early supports the child’s development and provides the child with information and skills to better protect themselves and other children. Increasing knowledge of children, as well as parents and professionals, can help prevent child sexual abuse. Two organisations came together in this webinar, to spotlight their work to build trainings and tools to prevent child sexual abuse.
Step by Step Parents Association in Croatia promotes the rights of children and their families through different programmes. One of those programmes is the Child Assault Prevention Programme (CAP Programme). The CAP programme exists already for 25 years in Croatia and it equips children with effective prevention strategies to reduce their vulnerability and exposure to various forms of violence. Additionally, it ensures better support for parents, guardians, and educators. The programme has several variants that are intended for children of different ages and needs: preschool, kindergarten, teenagers, and children with disabilities. See full presentation here.
KMOP, the Social Action and Innovation Centre in Greece has extensive experience in education, research, policy and social action. They partnered in a project of the European Union Internal Security Fund (ISF) called “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Education” (CSAPE 2022-2024). As part of the project, they conducted a survey to map the attitudes and practices of children and youth concerning their online behaviour, ability to recognise potentially dangerous situations online, and awareness of available reporting and support mechanisms in case of online abuse in their respective countries. One of the resources developed by the project is a Guide for parents and guardians about Child sexual education. See full presentation here.
Further information
CAP in general – URKPK. Resource of Parents Association Step by Step, Croatia
CSAPE – Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Education. Resource of KMOP, Greece
Prevention of violence specifically in (amateur) sport clubs. Resource of Defence for Children International
You are not alone. Programme in Finland run by Vaestoliitto (Family Federation of Finland)
Comment protéger les enfants dans votre structure sportive. Resources developed by PARCS 2.0
European Commission launches new network for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
EU Strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse
COFACE is proud member of ECLAG – a European coalition working to end child sexual abuse online
Get the facts about grooming and Warning signs to watch for. Resources developed by RAINN
How to recognise child grooming signs. Resource developed by Raising Children, Australia
The Real red flags of grooming. Resource of the National Children’s Alliance, USA
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Terminology
Child sexual abuse: Any act, by an adult or a person significantly older than the child, that violates a child’s right to sexual self-determination or any attempt of such act. Child sexual abuse includes e.g., engaging in sexual activities with a child, causing a child to witness sexual activities or sexual abuse, and coercing, forcing, or threatening a child into sexual activities with a third party.
Child sexual abuse material: Any photo/video material that depicts a child engaging in sexual conduct (with or without an adult) and material with a focus on the genital/anal region of the child.
Grooming (solicitation of a child for sexual purposes): An adult approaching a child online or offline, with the goal to abuse the child sexually. Grooming can include the following (Note! All of these are also considered child sexual abuse):

Communicating with a child in a sexualised way
Commenting on the child’s image or body with sexual connotations
Asking a child for a nude/intimate photo of themselves
Sending nude/intimate or pornographic material to a child
Getting a child to act in a sexual way in front of a camera
Getting a child to agree to meet online or offline
