COFACE online exchange on blended families of today
2025-03-12 11:30 - 12:30 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels) | 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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels) | 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 (Europe/Brussels) | 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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels) | 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 (Europe/Brussels)
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 (Europe/Brussels) | 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

COFACE Disability annual platform meeting
2025-11-13 08:00 - 2025-11-14 17:00 (Europe/Brussels)
COFACE Disability annual platform meeting
Paris, 13-14 November 2025
This year’s meeting aims to bring together COFACE members and external partners to share diverse insights and experiences related to the inclusive transition of care services for persons with disabilities. The discussion will dive into what this transition concretely entails on the ground, what are the challenges and opportunities in facilitating it, the presentation of local best practices, as well as insights into the best way to integrate families in its realisation. The discussion aims to encompass developments at European, national, and regional levels.
This meeting is for COFACE members only.
SAVE THE DATE and register by contacting Sebastian Gonzalez sgonzalez@coface-eu.org

European peer exchange: The House of the Child in Belgium
2025-11-19 10:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Brussels)
European peer exchange
Focus: The House of the Child in Belgium
19th November 2025 – 10.00-12.30 CET online
Background
Europe is facing a range of challenges, from an ageing population to increasing financial insecurity, growing inequalities and evolving work practices. While policymakers know that adapting to these changes is key to a resilient European economy, this is usually only discussed in relation to individuals. What’s left out of these conversations is families. “The vast majority of people live within some form of a family, so their resources and capacities are fundamentally shaped by the close relationships formed within this setting,” says Rense Nieuwenhuis, associate professor of Sociology at Stockholm University.
This is especially true for children and their family environment, which has a huge impact on their health and well-being. In this respect, the European Child Guarantee is contributing to rolling out different services to support families across Europe, including the family centre model which is expanding in a number of countries such as Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Aims of the European peer exchange
For Universal Children’s Day 2025, COFACE put the spotlight on the Child Guarantee and its potential to drive positive change for children and their families. The aim of this peer exchange was to spotlight the Belgian family centre model referred to as the House of the Child, and to use this as a starting point for transnational exchanges and mutual learning with other countries in the EU and neighbourhood countries. This was a public webinar open to policy-makers and practitioners set in the context of the implementation of the European Child Guarantee.
Programme
See the full programme here.
Chronology of the development of the Houses of the Child here.
Factsheet about the Houses of the Child here.
Child participation
Children are welcome to participate in COFACE webinars. These webinars are set up with child safeguarding in mind to ensure they are a safe and inclusive space for child participation.
Presentations
Holly Shorey – 15 principles for family rights and resilience
Martino Serapioni – Integrated family support models in Europe
Tine Rommens – House of the Child
Evelien Umans – House of the Child
Key resources

Opgroeien (Flemish agency for family and child support)
Ogroeien database with an overview of qualitative methodologies and programmes
Insights on Family Policies series: spotlight on Italy, Belgium and Germany
rEUsilience Roadmap for boosting the rights and resilience of European families
15 policy principles for family resilience
Breaking Silos, Building Futures: Policy Innovations for Integrated Family and Child Support | COFACE Families Europe
Networks of family resource centres – list of studies including social return on investment
European Observatory on Family Policy
2021 Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee
European survey on the European Child Guarantee asking children for their feedback by 8th December.
European Child Guarantee Monitoring framework
Evaluation of Sure Start Services in the UK
Resource for support to English-speaking families in Belgium who have children affected by autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia (DCD) https://neurodiversity.be
European conceptual framework on family support
Resource about sexual health in 14 languages
Triple P Return on Investment studies: United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada

Family centres in other world regions

Family resource centres in Australia
Family resource centres in Canada
Family resource centres in Hong Kong
Family resource centres in Singapore
Family resource centres in the United States

COFACE webinar: Communicating Social Europe in a changing social media landscape
2025-11-25 09:30 - 12:30 (Europe/Brussels)
COFACE Communication Webinar
25th November 2025
9.30-12.30 CET
European and national social rights advocacy requires constant adaptation in this digital era. We believe our webinar is timely and important, especially considering shifting algorithms, rising misinformation, changing user habits, content moderation policy changes, new regulations on targeted advertising and the growing importance of short-form content.
Social Europe can be understood especially as EU-level initiatives taken to improve social rights and promote social inclusion, as well as national initiatives and campaigns to promote social rights.
European and national civil society are key stakeholders in the implementation of Social Europe and dissemination of key initiatives to the grassroots level. COFACE members are part of this stakeholder community.
With this webinar we wish to collect feedback from COFACE members on how civil society is using social media for communication and dissemination on social rights, their challenges and successes, and how they are managing the constantly evolving social media landscape. This part of the webinar will be for COFACE members only.
For the third panel of the webinar from 11.20-12.30 CET, we will invite COFACE partner organisations to join the discussion and share their perspectives (around 25 participants in total from national and European level).

Online workshop on EU funding for family support projects
2025-12-10 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Online workshop on EU funding for family support projects –
What’s available and how to apply?
10th December, 14.00-16.00 CET
This workshop aims to build capacity of the COFACE community to apply for EU funding to boost their work on family support in their communities.
It is designed for national civil society organisations supporting children and families.
Family support is an important element of many EU policies, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Child Guarantee, the European Care Strategy, as well as the transposition of laws like the European Work-life balance directive.
We will start with a general introduction to EU funding, and then focus on three specific funds:

Erasmus+ programme
Citizen, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme
European Social Fund +

The workshop is for COFACE members only.
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Further reading

EU Funding Consulting – Astrid Mechel
rEUsilience Roadmap for boosting the rights and resilience of European families (see chapter 5 on EU funding)
EU Funds for Social Services – HELPDESK
Use of the European Social Fund for actions to combat poverty and social exclusion of children

COFACE Working group on work-life balance
2026-01-27 09:30 - 13:00 (Europe/Brussels)
COFACE Working group on work-life balance
27 January 2026 10.00-13.00 CET (online)
Background
COFACE is hosting an online working group meeting on work-life balance with members and partners to discuss key topics such as adequately paid leaves, take up of leaves by men and the childcare gap.
The childcare gap remains one of the most pressing challenges facing new parents across Europe today. This gap arises following the birth of a child, when well-paid parental leave has been exhausted, but access to state-supported full-time Early Childhood Education and Care is not yet available. During this period, families often struggle to balance care responsibilities and employment. This shows the shortcomings of existing work–life balance policies.
According to the find hand and European Equality Legal Network, gaps in the transposition of the EU Work-life Balance Directive persist—particularly in ensuring adequate compensation for parental leave and encouraging greater uptake of family leaves by fathers. These shortcomings often rooted in gender inequalities such as the gender pay gap, further deepen the childcare gap. Strengthening the effective implementation of the WLB Directive, especially by improving parental leave compensation and promoting equal sharing of caregiving responsibilities, is therefore essential to closing the childcare gap and supporting parents more effectively in the early years of their child’s life.
Aim of the working group meeting

Take stock of latest trends on work-life balance policies across the EU with a focus on the adequacy of leave payments and the take-up of parental and family leaves by men.
Discuss the current state of play regarding the transposition and implementation of the EU Work-life Balance Directive in Member States.
Examine childcare the gap, and explore how to bridge this period
Identify and discuss potential flagship initiatives and best practices that could help close this gap.
Assess recent research findings and policy developments that can enhance future action.

Registrations
This meeting is open to COFACE members only – register here.
For further information about the programme, contact Attila Bőhm abohm@coface-eu.org

Families in the age of Artificial Intelligence: Rights, inclusion and empowerment
2026-03-17 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Athens)
Families in the age of Artificial Intelligence:
Rights, inclusion and empowerment
European expert meeting
17th March 2026
Athens, Greece
Background
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, its impact on families is growing, shaping how they work, learn, care, communicate, and stay safe online.
Co-hosted by COFACE Families Europe and KMOP, this expert meeting will convene researchers, policymakers, tech experts and civil society to discuss the impact of Artificial intelligence on family life and inclusion, with a focus on rights, equity and empowerment in the digital age.
Using a multi-generation approach looking at children and adults, we aim to collect information from COFACE members and partners about family experiences at home, in the labour market, in schools and in the online environment, while highlighting the transformative role of AI and looking at both risks and opportunities.
The programme will aim to highlight the state of play of artificial intelligence today, while also looking towards the future and its impact on families.
Key areas to be explored during breakout sessions are the following:

Future of work: what risks and opportunities for AI-exposed workers?
Online safety and navigating AI in digital environments
Leveraging AI for inclusive care and social protection
AI for families in migration: threat or opportunity?
Financial inclusion and consumer rights in an AI world
AI in education: enhancing equity and respecting children’s right

Together, we will identify the challenges for families of today and consider the building blocks of a family-friendly digital future, one where AI serves as a tool for social inclusion, equity, and well-being for all families.
Working languages: English and Greek.

Save the date! Programme coming soon.
