ENSA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2025

 and connected activities,

Brussels, 3rd, 4th and 5th of March

Registration Link

Day 1 (3rd March): HOPE Conference “Cooling the Heat”:  9:00 AM to 5:15 PM.
Venue: House of the Dutch Provinces, Rue de Treves, 59-61, 1040 Brussels Belgium

Day 2 (4th March): ENSA General Assembly: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Venue: Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles
ENSA/ENSEL Youth, Child, Family and Well-being working group: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Venue: Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles

Day 3 (5th March): ENSA Older Adults and Disability working groups: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Venue: Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles

Detailed Programmes

Day 1, 3 March 2025
HOPE, Responding to Heatwaves in the Older People Ecosystem, Conference “Cooling the Heat”:  9:00 AM to 5:15 PM.

Venue: House of the Dutch Provinces, Rue de Treves, 59-61, 1040 Brussels Belgium

Summer is coming near again. To what extent are we prepared in Europe? 

The Responding to Heatwaves in Older People Ecosystem (HOPE) project together with two leading networks of European authorities working in older adult care: European Network for Social Authorities (ENSA) and European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network (ELISAN) have the pleasure to invite you to a one day event entitled “Cooling the Heat!” that will take place in the House of the Dutch Provinces in Brussels on the 3rd of March 2025.
This event aims to discuss how to put the severe health threats of heatwaves on the agenda of the older adult service and healthcare sectors with an inclusive approach for the whole ecosystem. Specific focus will be put on developing and strengthening the competences of students, informal caregivers, and professionals in older adult health, care and social sectors on better responding to the needs of older adults during heatwaves and thereby better mitigating the risks.  

Successful experiences will be exchanged in the following sessions:

•    From policy to action regarding heatwaves.
•    Manage the needs of older adults in an urban context;
•    What skills are needed for (informal) caretakers.
Leading international experts and decision makers will be invited present and discuss innovative practices and policies, making the link with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Urban Agenda for the EU.

You can register for the conference with the help of this registration form.   
For any questions regarding the conference or the registration and for more information see the website of HOPE.

Day 2, March 4- ENSA General Assembly 2025

Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles

Day, 2 - March 4- ENSA General Assembly 2025

ENSA/ENSEL, Youth, Family, child and Wellbeing working groups 

Venue:Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles

Date: March 4 2025, 11- 13:00, Brussels
Chair: Miltos Sakellariou ENSA coordinator for Wellbeing and ENSEL network
Call for Contributions:
This workshop invites contributions on two vital themes for improving mental health:

A) Behavioural Disorders in Teenagers – Sharing effective strategies for preventing and addressing disruptive behaviors in adolescents, with a focus on early intervention and community involvement.

B) Climate Change and Health Prevention with an Intergenerational Approach – Exploring the role of youth in supporting older adults to mitigate climate change’s health impacts through intergenerational collaboration.
Event on site: for stakeholders not able to be on site contribution of Best Practices could be sent and will be put online on ENSA/ENSEL websites for dissemination and follow-up together with those of onsite participants

    A- Behavioural Disorders in Teenagers

As part of ongoing efforts to address Behavioural Disorders in Teenagers, we invite professionals, organizations, and researchers to share their best practices, successful approaches, and innovative strategies for preventing, intervening, and treating these disorders. The aim is to exchange effective methods for addressing the complex challenges faced by adolescents with disruptive behaviours.

Context & Importance
Behavioural disorders, if untreated, can have long-term consequences, impacting relationships, employment, and quality of life. Early intervention is essential to help young people develop coping strategies, emotional resilience, and social skills. The European Union has prioritized mental health, focusing on early detection, prevention, and strengthening mental health policies for vulnerable populations like adolescents. A key aspect of this effort includes strengthening the resilience of foster parents who care for unaccompanied minors and refugees. These children often face unique psychological challenges stemming from trauma, displacement, and a lack of family support. By reinforcing the coping abilities of foster parents, we enhance the quality of life for these vulnerable children, ensuring they have the stability and support they need to thrive.

Causes & Risk Factors of Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD):
Key risk factors include exposure to violence, family history of mental illness or substance abuse, familial discord, abuse and neglect, and poor or inconsistent parenting. Foster parents of unaccompanied minors and refugee children often face additional challenges such as cultural differences, language barriers, and trauma exposure. Training foster parents to effectively address these issues helps mitigate the risk of DBD and strengthens the children’s emotional resilience.

What We Are Looking For:
We are seeking contributions that showcase successful case studies, innovative programs, and effective strategies aligned with the EU's priorities. These contributions should focus on promoting the overall psychosocial well-being of young people—enhancing self-esteem, reducing loneliness, fostering communication skills, building resilience against negative influences, and empowering informed lifestyle choices. We specifically encourage efforts that include supporting foster parents in enhancing their emotional resilience to better care for unaccompanied minors and refugees. Additionally, we invite contributions that integrate modern, active learning methods, with a particular emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support these efforts.

Contributions should focus on:

• Prevention and promotion of mental well-being in adolescents
• Early detection and timely intervention strategies
• Parent and community involvement in supporting teenagers
• Integration of digital tools and AI to address social media’s impact on mental health
• Cross-sector collaboration between schools, health professionals, and authorities

B- HOPE Responding to Heatwaves in Older People ecosystem, Erasmus+ funded project,  follow up on younger generations engagement

Climate Change and Health Promotion with an Intergenerational Approach.

As the climate crisis deepens, its effects are felt across all generations, but older adults are particularly vulnerable to the health risks associated with climate change. Extreme heat events, air pollution, flooding, and other climate-related events can have a disproportionate impact on older adults, now and in the future, making it crucial for youth working groups to understand and address these challenges with a focus on prevention and intergenerational collaboration. By adopting an intergenerational approach, where younger generations engage with and support older adults and by giving it a place in the curriculum of students in health and social domain, we can build stronger, more resilient communities that prioritize the health and well-being of all age groups, especially the older people
An intergenerational approach recognizes these vulnerabilities and empowers youth to collaborate with older adults, using collective knowledge and resources to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.

What We Are Looking For: 
Collaboration with practices and initiatives related to:

Mental health support initiatives:  where youth can promote mental health awareness and provide resources for older adults to access counselling, therapy, or community support groups during climate-related stress like heatwaves.

Advocating for climate-friendly healthcare policies and awareness initiatives, like heat action days where Youth can engage in advocacy for accessible, affordable healthcare that takes into account the needs of older adults in the face of climate change.

Creating Collaborative Community Initiatives
An intergenerational approach creates opportunities for younger and older individuals to work together in their communities to reduce climate risks. Youth working groups can partner with local organizations to establish programs that directly benefit older adults, including:

Why Contribute:
This is an opportunity to showcase your work, exchange insights with peers, and contribute to a broader European dialogue. 
Your contributions will help to build future project proposals and initiatives, workshops, and seminars on this theme.

Experts contributions from:

•    Josine van den Bogaard
Senior Advisor for Living Environment and Health, Municipality of Rotterdam | Public Health Service
•    Esther Wienese
Project Manager Rotterdam Heat Plan, Municipality of Rotterdam / Public Health and Environment (GGD)
•    Oscar Reigmerink, University of Applied Science of Rotterdam, Nederland
•    Dott.ssa Silvia Faggian, Veneto Region, Direction Social Services, Organizational Unit for Dependencies, Third Sector, New Marginalities, and Social Inclusion 
•    Anne Marie Chavanon, Council of Europe, Conference of OINGs, Committee on Inclusive Territories, Environment and Health
•    Prof. Dr. Cigdem Sahin Taskin, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Turkey)
•    Dr Miguel Vidal González, Spanish National Reference Centre CIPFP Misericordia, Valencia (Spain).
•    Isabel Berckmans, Odisee University of Applied Sciences Lecturer in Ortho pedagogy
Research on meditation and compassion in social welfare

Chair: Miltos Sakellariou, ENSA-Coordinator for Wellbeing and ENSEL Network 

                  We look forward to your valuable contributions to strengthen our collaboration

The ENSA/ENSEL, Youth, Child, Family, and Wellbeing working group teams

Practical Instructions:

Stakeholders who wish to disseminate and contribute a best practice should follow the template, which should include the following elements:

•    Title: Title of the best practice.
•    Summary: Provide a brief summary, highlighting the main theme and the target group.
•    Purpose of the Exchange: Specify the objectives and intended outcomes of sharing the best practice.
•    Contact Details: Include relevant contact information for follow-up.

To upload your presentation, please use the following link:

ENSA/ENSEL Youth, Child, Family and Well-being working groups
Chair:  Miltos Sakellariou: ENSA-Coordinator for Well-being and ENSEL Network

Day 3- March 5.
ENSA older adults and persons with disabilities working groups

Workshop:   Addressing Demographic Change and Building Age and Disability-Friendly Communities

Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 2.00- 5.00

Venue: Veneto Region’s Brussels Office, 67 Av de Tervueren 1040 Bruxelles

On site: Stakeholders who cannot contribute on site can send their contribution or practice that will be disseminated for further exchange on the ENSA and ENSEL websites 

Chairs and leaders, Anthony Polychronakis, City of Rotterdam, Maria Jose Rico Llorca, Director IVASS Valencia 

Call for Contributions: this workshop invites contributions on the following themes: 

• Challenges and opportunities in the field of demographic change and active ageing,
• Age and Disability friendly city and environments, dementia and disability friendly,
• Tackling the impact of Climate change on the older and vulnerable population developing proposals to contribute to heat action days.
• Long term care and social and health integration

Objectives and Framework of Exchanges:

1.    The power of demography: empowering older generations and sustaining their welfare

Demography is a powerful force shaping the future of societies, influencing life expectancy, family structures, and living conditions. This thematic exchange will dive into demographic trends, particularly those affecting aging populations, and explore how regions, local authorities, and communities can adapt to these shifts with actionable, examples..

2.    Age and Disability-Friendly Cities: A Major Challenge for Inclusive Communities

The creation of age and disability-friendly cities is essential for promoting autonomy and resilience among older individuals and people with disabilities. This involves designing inclusive urban environments that address both physical accessibility and social inclusion, fostering independent living and active participation. A key aspect is creating spaces where people in advanced recovery stages can share experiences with those in earlier stages. This discussion will explore how cities can assess and improve their accessibility by listening to residents and collaborating across sectors. Contributions from the AGE-FRIENDLY TOOLKIT project will share best practices, with insights from IVASS Valencia and San Camillo Hospital in Venice showcasing practical initiatives.

3.    Tackling the Impact of Climate Change on Older Populations: Proposals for Heat Action Days

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially during extreme heat events. This session will focus on strategies for mitigating these risks and developing concrete proposals for Heat Action Days, ensuring that older populations are protected during climate extremes.

4.    Social and Health Integration: Enhancing Residential, Home Care, and Primary Care Services

Comprehensive integration of social and health services is essential for the well-being of older adults, whether they are receiving residential care, home care, or utilizing primary care services. This session will explore models for improving coordination between healthcare systems, social services, and community-based care, ensuring that older individuals have access to holistic, person-centred support. We will examine innovative care models that enhance quality of life and promote independence, as well as explore how these models can be expanded and adapted to meet the diverse needs of aging populations.

Practical Instructions for stakeholders willing to share a best practice

Stakeholders who wish to disseminate and contribute a best practice should follow the template,
which should include the following elements:

• Title: Title of the best practice.
• Summary: Provide a brief summary, highlighting the main theme and the target group.
• Purpose of the Exchange: Specify the objectives and intended outcomes of sharing the best
practice.
• Contact Details: Include relevant contact information for follow-up.

To upload your presentation, please use the following link: BEST PRACTICES

We look forward to welcoming you!

For the city of Rotterdam Anthony Polychronakis, for IVASS Valencia, Maria Jose Rico Llorca, Director IVASS Valencia 

PROVISIONAL ¨PROGRAMME. 5 March 2025

ENSA OLDER ADULTS AND DISABILITY WORKING GROUPS 

Date:  Brussels Wednesday 27 November 2024 
Time: 9.00- 13.00 C.E.T.
Venue:  Odisee University of Applied Sciences
Hybrid meeting link: https://shorturl.at/1hYUn
Online workshop link: https://meet.google.com/qox-yzet-dku
Registration: https://shorturl.at/PGFkq

Background and Rationale

The future of Europe depends on the well-being and development of its young people. As societal structures change, so do the challenges minors, youth, and families face. While the EU has made progress in improving their quality of life, issues like child protection, education, youth employment, and family support remain complex. Policy approaches vary across Europe, creating both opportunities for learning and challenges in integration. This exchange program aims to foster dialogue, share best practices, and enhance cross-border collaboration among policymakers, practitioners, youth organizations, and academics, to strengthen EU 

Objectives of the Exchange

•    Facilitate Knowledge Exchange: 
•    Identify Best Practices
•    Build Networks and project proposals
•    Strengthen EU Policy Alignment: Contribute to the ongoing EU dialogue about youth empowerment, child protection, and family support to ensure that policies are coherent and complementary across borders.
•    Enhance Youth Participation: 
We invite all participants to prepare a small presentation on the child, youth and family policies in their region.  We aim for the actual priorities, but most of all for major policy discussions in the domain, at level of policy makers, families and youngsters and/or services/service providers.  Also, innovative service models, cases and experiences on the theme are mostly welcome.  Feel free to choose these aspects which are relevant to your situation and knowledge.  It is of course also fine to group contributions (with colleagues, per country, …)
The aim is to contribute with this content to the work plan of the working group for the next years. 
(If useful, you can get inspired by the draft work plan developed by the Youth Care Platform.)
Please keep your presentation short (max 5min).  A supportive PPT-presentation can be used (max 6 slides recommended).”

Key note speakers 

Prof. Dr. Jochen Devlieghere
Researcher in the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University
Prof. Dr. Jochen Devlieghere will guide us through several important societal trends that impact policy and support for children, young people, and their families. He will, among other things, focus on what the increasing diversity means for the accessibility of services.
 
Katarina Ivankovic Knezevic

EU,  Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Focus on child guarantee.
Katarina Ivankovic Knezevic will outline priority policy lines that the European Commission is putting forward for children, young people, and their families. She will, among other things, address mental health and well-being, social exclusion, and violence prevention.
   
Hybrid meeting link: https://shorturl.at/1hYUn

9.00 – 9.10    Plenary Session 
Opening remarks – ENSA coordination team – An Rommel, Agency Growing Up Flanders Veneto Region’s Brussels Office 

9.10/9.40 Prof. Dr. Jochen Devlieghere
Societal trends impacting children, young people, and their families. Accessibility of services in a context of diversity
 
9.40 /10.10 Katarina Ivankovic Knezevic
EU, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Child guarantee
- Priority policy lines of the European Commission regarding children, young people, and their families
- Addressing mental health and well-being, social exclusion, and violence prevention

10.10/10.30  Q&A

10.30/10.45   Break

10.45/12.00    Workshops on site and online 
Online workshop link:https://meet.google.com/qox-yzet-dku

We will share our field priorities in small groups and how we work, with Minors, Youth and Families, for future practice exchanges, team capacity building, and project proposals. 

On site coordination and methodology Jos Sterckx Odisee University of Applied Sciences
Online coordination by Miltos Sakellariou, ENSEL network, Social Cooperative Altera Vita Cyclades, Greece 

12.30/13.00    

Plenary- Reports from ENSA and ENSEL workshops
Hybrid meeting link: https://shorturl.at/1hYUn

Follow-up on European projects proposals Katja Fournier, Researcher Knowledge Center Family Sciences, Odisee University  

Wrap up, draft programme of work and concluding remarks Jos Sterckx, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, ENSA coordination team

Any need to contact by phone or mail 
General: 
Elena  +32  471 30 35 28 elena.curtopassi@regione.veneto.it
Andrea + 39 174 22 833   andrea.deste@regione.veneto.it
Miltos for online participation +30 697 220 43 56  miltosakellariou@gmail.com
Jos  for on-site participation Odisee University:  jos.sterckx@odisee.be
Looking forward to welcoming you and to the joint programme of work, initiatives and projects to be developed together. 

At the annual General Assembly of the ENSA network on November 15 2022 in Venice, a new working group for the promotion of well-being and the implementation of Social Emotional Learning in Europe has been established. The coordination in this thematic working group changes every four years. The legal representation of the ENSA by Annalisa Bisson and the creation of this working group followed the unanimous decisions of the members.

Altera Vita, Greece

The present coordination of the thematic ENSA working group- Wellbeing and Social Emotional Learning - is led by the Social Cooperative of Cyclades, Greece, represented by Miltos Sakellariou, Family Therapist, Prevention Counselor in Addiction, Chairman of the Board and founding member of the Social Cooperative of Cyclades–ALTERA VITA.

Altera Vita is a scientific research Centre that implements education and awareness programmes, in the areas of Social Economy, Health Promotion, Organic Farming, Environment and Sustainable Development, the Arts and Culture, Pedagogy, Psychology, and New Technologies.

For more information visit:  https://alteravita.eu/

E-learning: https://e-learning.alteravita.eu/

Contact: Μiltos Sakellariou, miltosakellariou@gmail.com

ALTERA VITA jointly with Regional and Local Authorities, universities, schools, and stakeholders involved in ongoing work in ERASMUS + projects have designed educational tools for Social Emotional Learning establishing an informal network for Social Emotional Learning, the  ENSEL NETWORK.

VISION AND MISSION

Social and emotional competencies become increasingly important and necessary in people’s daily lives, especially in the lives of children and youth, who are asked to cope with various challenges in their relationships and contacts with school peers, parents and other adults (such as teachers) they live, learn and socialize with. 

The European Commission now recognizes “Social and Civic Competencies” as one of 8 key competencies for lifelong learning, needed to live in contemporary society, as highlighted at the Annual General Assembly of ENSA by Anne Marie Chavanon, Council of Europe, President of the Committee on Environmental and Sanitary Crisis of the Conference of INGO. 

The European Commission also underlines the need for further developing teachers' and trainers’ competencies, motivation, and skills so that their educational approaches match the needs of learners.

ENSEL network for Wellbeing will be conceived as an “umbrella working group of ENSA”, providing members with a platform and framework to join forces, exchange good practices and educational materials, and thus develop common actions to motivate all parties involved in Life Skills including both intrapersonal and interpersonal qualities.

Intrapersonal life skills include self-awareness, self-control, self-esteem, self-respect, and self-reflection.

Interpersonal life skills include effective communication, cooperation, teamwork and problem-solving abilities, respect for similarities and differences, appreciation, empathy, trust, and love to implement Well-being in our communities.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

 The main objectives of the new thematic group for Wellbeing and Ensel-Network :

1. To coordinate actions and initiatives at the European level and develop partnerships across Europe

2. To campaign and advocate for a common European strategy for life skills, especially for Social and emotional competencies in Europe and to monitor and influence policies at the national and European levels for schools, Universities, Communities, and Organisations.

3. To produce and promote the exchange of good practices, enforce capacity building and provide tools and training to professionals working in the field.

4. To raise awareness among the public and empower children and young people as well as parents, teachers and stakeholders professionals, on how to implement Life Skills in a Holistic approach in their communities for their well-being.

For more information about different ongoing projects in Europe for SEL and Well-being, please visit the links below:

 EU-projects

•        ENSEL NETWORK: https://en-sel.eu/
•        The living Art-Art of Living https://livingarterasmus.wixsite.com/livingart
•        REFLECT https://reflectproject.wixsite.com/site
•        COMPUSEL https://compuseleu.com/#
•        RED https://erasmusredproject.wixsite.com/red-project
•        DANCEFULNESS https://dancefulness.eu/

Participation

If you are interested in participating in this working group of ENSA, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/uCCqBiBo9oUpvtcX6.

ENSEL NETWORK and WELL BEING WORKING GROUP
Board

Miltos Sakellariou, Chairman of the Board-Coordinator of the ENSA WG for SEL

Family Therapist, Prevention Counsellor in Addictions, MSc Counseling Psychology

  Prof. Dr. Cigdem Sahin Taskin, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Education (Turkey) and 

Dr Miguel Vidal González, Spanish National Reference Centre CIPFP Misericordia, Valencia (Spain).

ENSA BRUSSELS’ OFFICE

Legal representative

Annalisa Bisson

contact, Elena Curtopassi

Veneto Region, Brussels' Office

elena.curtopassi@regione.veneto.it

 https://www.ensa-network.eu/

 

ENSA General Assembly and connected actitivities

  Invitation and draft program

14-15-16 November 2022

Registration is compulsory for all the events and sections by completing the following google form: https://forms.gle/8LWWpcfMzuHfXtHy8 confirmation according to availability of seats

Venue: Palazzo Grandi Stazioni. Fondamenta Santa Lucia, Canareggio 23 30121, Venice

https://goo.gl/maps/mzLqqPa4Mo4QgKbd9

 ONLINE attendance is also possible  

 The Veneto Region and the ENSA (European network of Social Authorities) have the pleasure to invite you to the second part of the General Assembly 2022 that, thanks to the improving of the COVID situation, can be hold face to face for those who have the possibility to come.

 The objective of the meeting will be to update together the bodies of the network, according to the changes that have occurred in the last years, and the statutes. In addition, suggestions to the general guidelines of the annual programme can be exchanged for future developments

 Furthermore, we will take this opportunity to provide to the thematic working groups a possibility to share their priorities taking advantage of a specific invitation of the final meeting of the N.E.x.T TO YOU project (Network for the Empowerment, the social and labour inclusion of Trafficked minors and young adults). 

Day 1, Monday November 14th. 9.00-17.30

N.E.x.T. TO YOU Study Visits, Internal Consortium meeting and follow up

 Day 2, Tuesday November 15th

9.15-13.30

N.E.x.T. TO YOU Final Conference

15.00-18.00

ENSA General Assembly and Youth Child and Family working group meeting

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of all the children to have the best possible start in life, to grow up happy and healthy and to develop to their full potential. This requires not only an inclusive society with accessible and quality basic services, but also an organisation of care and support that starts from before pregnancy. In doing so, we note that social inequality and the complexity of the issues where parents, children and young people are confronted with is increasing. Integrated care and support in different life domains are an important and necessary answer to this. It requires not only new organisational forms but also the development of new methodical and evidence-based "integrated" approaches. During the ENSA child and youth/family working group, we will make space to identify ideas and practices for future collaboration.

Day 3, Wednesday November 16th

9.15-12.00

Youth Care Platform meeting

After 3 years of only few activities (due to the COVID-19), the Youth Care Platform looks at the future again!  Since the Youth Care Platform was launched in September 2013, the activities of the network were driven by work plans with a 3 years life span.  Next meeting in Venice, we will start with the collection of ideas for a new work plan for the period 2023 – 2025.  Next to this, we will hear updates on some EU-funded projects that are running now (note that the Youth Care Platform acts as advisory board for some projects).  It is still possible to add other topics to the agenda and also your project can be highlighted.

 Christine Gaschler-Andreasch, Head of Youth Welfare in Carinthia and chair of the Youth Care Platform

 Jos Sterckx, Project development University of Applied Sciences Odisee (Social Department) and coordinator of the Youth Care Platform

 

Parallel Sessions

13.30-18.00

Dear ENSA, European Network of Social Authorities and interested colleagues

ENSA, European Network of Social Authorities

With the support of the Committee on Environmental and Health Crisis- Council of Europe, and the participation of the ENSEL NETWORK

We invite you to the

General Assembly meeting, Working Groups and connected activities will take place in BRUSSELS

 from

the 22nd to the 25th of January, 2024

in Brussels on-site and online

Book this date in your agendas!

Registration is compulsory at the following link:

https://forms.gle/PFRWfJGt78pWgSgR9

Looking forward to the exchanges,

An Rommel, Rudy de Cock, Opgroien, Flemish welfare Ministry youth and children;

Dott. Pasquale Borsellino, Veneto Region Social Services, Unit Youth Family, Minors Service;

Anthony Polychronakis, City of Rotterdam, International Coordinator.

Jan Claeys, Jos Sterckx, University of Applied Sciences Odisee, Social Department.

Miltos Sakellariou, Social Cooperative of Cyclades, Coordinator of ENSEL Network

Draft Programme

Day 1: Monday, January 22

- Hybrid event -

Venue: Odisee University of Applied Sciences - Campus Brussels - Warmoesberg 26, 1000 Brussels

GOOGLE MAPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u6NpKQs1aQqMNkFt7

Day 2: Tuesday, January 23

GOOGLE MAPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YoeNGgbAHEbAfFSEA

Day 3: Wednesday, January 24

- Hybrid event Venue: Odisee University of Applied Sciences – Campus Brussels - Warmoesberg 26, 1000 Brussel

GOOGLE MAPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u6NpKQs1aQqMNkFt7

Day 4: Thursday, January 25

 GOOGLE MAPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/j5wWarzZoBAq8bqS7

Venue: Odisee University of Applied Sciences - Campus Brussels - Warmoesberg26, 1000 Brussels

 

- 10.50  Dr Anis Ben Brik College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, Research on Families

- 10.50 - 12.45  ENSA Youth Minors and Family Working Groups

 Coordination: Rudy De Cock, An Rommel, Flemish Agency Growing Up (Opgroien); Pasquale Borsellino, Veneto Region Social Services, Unit Family – Minors – Civil Service

 Jan Claeys, Jos Sterckx, Odisee University of Applied Sciences Brussels Moderators

 Keynote:  Martino Serapioni, European Observatory on Family Policies, 

“Towards greater family policy integration across Europe: Overcoming sectoral fragmentation in supporting families with young children”

Investigating possible responses to the multisectoral needs of households by providing an overview of the current alignment and coordination between complementary services and policy areas in four European countries (Finland, Germany, Italy, and Poland) and the Belgian region of Flanders.

-Katja Fournier:  Odisee University Brussels, “How to support foster families.

 FORM Therapeutic foster care for unaccompanied minors and their foster families”

Care services report an enormous need to offer therapeutic ‘healing and development-oriented’ - care for these youngsters and their foster families, the focus of the research presentation will be on the training model of the FORM project which aims to find ways to provide training and professional guidance to foster care workers of unaccompanied minors refugees.  Exchanges will aim to bring together knowledge and experiences for the empowerment and social inclusion of these target groups.

- 12.45 - 14.45      LUNCH BREAK – Odisee University, Social Cooperative: BelCampus

- 14.45 - 16.45      Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities Working Groups

Coordination:

Anthony Polychronakis, City of Rotterdam, Department of Social Development

-Maria Sorzano, European Project Manager, IVASS Valencian Institute of Social Services

By 2050, in the EU the share of people over 65 will be around 30%, compared to around 20% today. An older population poses challenges for the social and healthcare sector but brings also needs and opportunities for policies that are fit for purpose in an era of major change in this session the focus will be centred on the following themes:

Panel 1: The Neighbourhood Approach. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the neighbourhood approach to improve the quality of life of citizens in the community? This panel brings together experts to discuss interdisciplinary approaches.

-Oscar Zanutto – ISRAA Treviso – Age-Friendly Neighborhoods

-Jeroen van Wijngaarden – Erasmus University Rotterdam " Neighborhood teams for vulnerable people"

-Otto Trienekens – Field Academy Rotterdam

Dementia and disabilities

On a global scale, there is a noticeable increase in the number of older people experiencing dementia and various forms of disabilities. Collaborative efforts between the governments in partnership with EU member governments and healthcare organizations, are crucial to enhance and professionalize the delivery of care.

Responding to Heatwaves in the Older People Ecosystem

Climate change has increased, in the frequency, and severity of heatwaves that will put the severe health threats of heatwaves on the agenda of the older adult service and healthcare sectors

Accessing health and social care for vulnerable groups

Due to interlocking crises in Europe (such as in housing, energy, inflation, and migration) the to facilitate EU-wide system change to increase care access, self-determination and empowerment for vulnerable groups by accessing health and social care.

Invited Speakers:

-Josine van den Bogaard & Hanadi Al’Baz – City of Rotterdam – Responding to Heatwaves in the Older People Ecosystem

-Johan Warnez Cognition and Inclusion, Belgium

-Thomas Bignal, EASPD European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities, Skills for Long-Term Care

16.45 - 17.00      Wrap up and next steps

ENSA, ENSEL Thematic Coordinators

Miltos Sakellariou, Social Cooperative Altera Vita, Cyclades (Greece):

Invitation for the 24/01 event, ENSEL Network - Social Emotional Learning and Well-Being

Day 2: Tuesday, January 23

-On-site event- 

Venue: Veneto Region’s Brussels Office - Av. de Tervueren 67, 1040 Bruxelles

 10.00 - 11.30  Visit of European delegations to the Veneto Region’s Brussels Office

Presentation of the activities of the Veneto and Valencia Brussels Office, Carlo Clini and Leticia Casañ Jensen, Head of Delegation - Brussels

 - Focus on Dialogue on European ongoing projects

 -Project Self IN: Self-management learning programs (SLP) are spaces where people with intellectual disabilities gather, discuss, and learn how to participate in our society, improving their self-determination and independence. The SELF-IN project combines SLP and metacognition methodologies as an innovative approach to improve the Quality of Life.  By IVASS Valencian Institute of Social Services - María Sorzano Castellón, European Project Manager and partners

 -Project TETRAS: Training of Educators for TRAnsfer of transversal Skills

Ubuntu Group is a Flemish not-for-profit network organisation active in the field of disability and social economy.

The organisation supports ca.1000 vulnerable adults with a disability

 - Loes Van Cluysen, project coordinator

 - Willem Philipsen, Programme Manager ‘Rotterdam Onbeperkt’, City of Rotterdam – Accessible City

 - 15.00 - 17.00  -ESF Project “WE.LA.PA.. An innovative territorial network of equal opportunities in the labour and professional market in Treviso and Province.

By Greta Maniero, Manpower SRL project coordinator and Paolo Zaramella

 - Eleonora Marton, Union Camere Veneto,

- Massimo Baldinato, Vice President of International Institutional Affairs Chez Leonardo

-Miltos Sakellariou, Social Cooperative Altera Vita, Cyclades (Greece), Coordinator ENSEL Network; Jos Sterckx, Odisee - University of Applied Sciences    Information on EU programmes and opportunities (Erasmus+, Horizon, DG Justice, 

Presentation ΕU PROGRAMS

E-COURSE -EU PROGRAMS

Day 3: Wednesday, January 24 

- Hybrid event- 

Venue: Odisee University of Applied Sciences – Campus Brussels - Warmoesberg 26, 1000 Brussels

 10.00 - 13.00  ENSEL Network & ENSA WP for Social Emotional Learning and Well-Being

Coordination: Miltos Sakellariou, Social Cooperative Altera Vita, Cyclades (Greece), Coordinator ENSEL Network & ENSA WG for Wellbeing and SEL

Speakers:

- Prof. Dr. Cigdem Sahin Taskin, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Education (Turkey), 

Navigating Emotions Through Computational Thinking: Unpacking the COMPUSEL Project

- Dr Miguel Vidal González, Spanish National Reference Centre CIPFP Misericordia, Valencia, Spain,

 Dancefulness and Wellbeing

- Maria del Carmen Lopez Cruz, FEMXA, Spain Director of European Funds & Development

Approach to social training: European tools and funds for a well-being improvement

- Antonio Palazuelos Prieto, SYAH Cabo Verde,

 Live on an island project, youth work for climate change and well-being in the island and coastal countries.

-Dott.ssa Antonella Masullo -Project “Promotion of health and well-being in Cava de’ Tirreni”

 Themes: holistically implementing life skills, helping young people exercise their fundamental rights in the home, school, class and community, open presentations, and interactive sessions with different partners of ENSEL Network

 

PRESENTATION- ENSEL NETWORK

 

 -14.30 - 17.00  Internal project meeting – SACRED consortium project meeting – Lead city of Rotterdam

 -15.30 - 17.00  Visit to the European Parliament – Meeting with MEP Rosanna Conte tbc

 Day 4: Thursday, January 25

-10.00 - 12.00      Visit to the Centre for European Volunteering, Mundo Madou

CEV | Avenue des Arts 7/8, 1210 Brussels

CEV Presentation of mission and objectives; collaboration opportunities

 Interactions with ESF Project “WE.LA.PA Greta Maniero, Manpwer SRL project coordinator and Paolo Zaramella

European Volunteer Center Vicenza - Dott.ssa Rita del Molin, Director

PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SzJqJbTCEznf5wVR6