The working group on children and families met four times during 2008 and 2009, bringing together directors of social services and senior members of advisory agencies. 

Learning from each other

The group quickly learnt that there are wide variations in responsibilities and structures of the services for children across Europe (see CAAB report for more). Nonetheless, they felt that there are many common challenges (for instance the lack of data) and affected target groups (children in foster care and children from ethnic minorities).

Get to meet group member Aidan Browne

What inspires me most is trying to find ways that our work can help and add value to the work of practitioners in their dealings with children and their families, " says Aidan Browne, Chief Executive of the Irish Children Acts Advisory Board.

Members of the working group participate in the European debate

ESN participated in a hearing at the European Parliament to review the National Reports 2008-2010 on Social Protection and Social Inclusion, organised by Eurochild. ESN expressed concern that the work of social services addressing the exclusion of children was not properly reflected in the National Reports. The ESN working group on children and families met the following day to look at how family policies across Europe support vulnerable children.  

Contact

To find out more about the group's work please email Alfonso Montero in the ESN Secretariat using firstname.lastname@esn-eu.org