COFACE Families Europe and the Odisee Centre for Family Studies in Brussels co-hosted a European conference in Brussels in September 2025. The conference convened 100+ researchers, policymakers, public administrators, and NGOs to advance integrated, place-based strategies for strengthening family resilience and equity.
The event centred on policy levers that empower municipalities and amplify early investments, exploring how cross-sector collaboration enhances service quality and maximises long-term societal returns. The programme was structured around a keynote roundtable followed by four interactive streams, which served as workshops to foster debate on reimagining Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centres as community anchors, designing integrated service hubs, innovating governance for local prevention, and harnessing digital tools to bridge service gaps.
Bridging research, policy, and practice, the conference aimed to identify and foster the dissemination of scalable solutions – from Flanders’ ‘Huis van het Kind’ to Estonia’s digital platforms – to build resilient communities where all families can thrive. All presentations of the conference are available on the conference webpage.
