About the Working Group
The ESN Working Group on Prevention and Early Intervention, which will run between 2026 and 2029, was created by the European Social Network (ESN) after a 2025 survey found that 81% of ESN Members consider it very important that ESN focus on prevention and early intervention as a key management matter.
Preventing issues through early intervention in social services can decrease the need for intensive care, such as long-term residential or alternative care, thus contributing to deinstitutionalisation. This strategy promotes cost-efficiency by addressing problems early, resulting in better outcomes for individuals and families, including enhanced wellbeing and reduced dependence on care. It also reduces the use of emergency services, enabling better resource allocation.
The ESN Working Group on Prevention and Early Intervention will gather and discuss trends, policies, strategies, and good practices on prevention and early intervention and elaborate recommendations for policymakers at European, national, and subnational levels, practitioners, and researchers.
We will adopt a life cycle approach, looking at the populations identified by our members as a priority:
- 2026: Children and families
- 2027: Young people transitioning to adulthood
- 2028: Adults with support needs, including adults with disabilities and those in difficult socio-economic situations
- 2029: Older people with support needs
About the 2026 Working Group Meeting
The first meeting of the ESN Working Group on Prevention and Early Intervention took place on 23-24 April 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The WG meeting was co-hosted by Sofia City Council and focused on prevention and early intervention in the context of children and families.
For any questions about the ESN Working Group on Prevention and Early Intervention, please contact Adriana Masgras, Policy and Project Officer, at adriana.masgras@esn-eu.org.
PROGRAMME
Thursday, 23 April 2026
13:15 - 13:30 - Opening Session
- Nadezhda Bacheva, Deputy Mayor for Social Affairs and Health Care, City of Sofia, Bulgaria
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
13:30 - 13:45 - Framing
- Adriana Masgras, Policy and Project Officer, European Social Network
13:45 - 15:05 - Best Practices & Q+A
- Karolina Hellberg, City of Stockholm – Social Affairs Administration, Sweden
- Laurens Debonne, Public Centre for Social Welfare of Bruges (OCMW Brugge), Belgium
- Elina Lejina-Kairisa, Latvian Children's Support Fund, Latvia
- Carl Fenech, Support Agency of Malta (Agenzija Sapport), Malta
15:35 - 17:05 - Group Work: Case Scenarios
In small groups, participants analyse different case scenarios and reflect on risk and protective factors, potential avenues for prevention, and barriers and enablers. Each group nominates a lead who will take notes and report back at the end of the day.
16:35 - 17:05 - Reporting back
The lead of each group reports on their group’s reflections on their assigned case scenario.
17:05 - 17:35 - Roundtable discussion
Together, participants discuss trends and the need for systemic changes based on their group work insights.
17:35 - 17:45 - Wrap-up (Day One)
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Friday, 24 April 2026
09:00 - 09:10 - Framing
- Adriana Masgras, Policy and Project Officer, European Social Network
09:10 - 10:10 - Best Practices & Q+A
- Gaby Juhl, Regional Government of Central Denmark – Region Midtjylland, Denmark
- Deirdre Connolly, Health Information and Quality Authority, Ireland
- Aine Morrison, Office of Social Services Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Herbert Paulischin, Centre for Training and Assessment in Social Work (CFCECAS), Romania
10:10 - 11:00 - Group Work: Concrete recommendations
In small groups, participants reflect on different practice and system-level themes related to prevention and formulate concrete recommendations for
policymakers, practitioners, and/or researchers. Each group nominates a lead who will take notes and report back at the end of the day.
11:20 - 11:50 - Reporting back
The lead of each group reports on their group’s reflections on their assigned theme.
11:50 - 12:20 - Roundtable discussion
Together, participants reflect on their takeaways and the long-term impact of the ideas produced throughout the two days.
12:20 - 12:30 - Closing Session
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Partners
