Background
Two projects - one common objective!
Children from families with addiction issues need strong support systems and well-qualified professionals.
Our European projects Make the Difference and Qualification Makes the Difference have started right here - with different focuses, but a common goal: to improve the situation for affected children.
- Make the difference (2021-2023, CERV program of the EU): Strengthening cooperation between addiction and youth protection services in 12 European municipalities
- Qualification Makes the Difference (2024, Erasmus+ partnership): Development of a European curriculum for the qualification of professionals in addiction and youth services, but also healthcare, social work and schools developed.
The projects have been completed - but their results are available to all interested parties!
Challenges & necessity of the projects
In Germany, it is estimated that every 5th child lives with at least one parent with addiction issues.
These children have an increased risk of psychological stress, developmental problems and social exclusion. Without appropriate support, so-called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can increase the risk of mental illness and addiction in adulthood.
Close cooperation between different support systems - such as addiction support, youth support, education and healthcare - is crucial in order to identify affected children at an early stage and provide them with long-term support. There are different legal bases and responsibilities for child protection in the EU member states, but everywhere there is an obligation to support families with addiction issues and to prevent children from being put at risk.
This is where our projects come in: They develop practical training formats for professionals, strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and promote sustainable exchange in order to improve support for this particularly vulnerable target group.
Two projects
Make the Difference (2021-2023, Focus: cooperation of help systems)
Duration & funding: May 2021 to October 2023, funded by the EU program for "Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values" (CERV)
Objective: Improving cooperation between addiction support, child protection & other stakeholders
Result: Guide for the development of cooperation agreements and 12 binding cooperation agreements in 12 EU countries
Main target group: Professionals from addiction and child protection services
Project partners: LWL (Coordinator), Integra Limburg (Belgium), DEPARTAMENT DE SALUT - GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA (Spain), FORUM PREVENZIONE ONLUS (Italy), TACTUS VERSLAVINGSZORG (Netherlands), IREFREA (Portugal), PREVENCIA V&P (Slovakia), National Institute of Mental Health (Czechia) ATHINA YGIA (Greece), EHYT (Finland), KENTHEA (Cyprus), National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ, Slovenia), AWO Suchthilfe Siegerland (Germany)
A guide towards a cooperation agreement between help services
Qualification Makes the Difference (2024, Focus: Qualification of professionals)
Duration & funding: January to December 2024, funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission
Objective: Development of a practice-oriented curriculum for professionals
Result: Curriculum for the qualification of professionals
Main target group: Professionals in addiction care, social work, child protection, healthcare, education and others
Partners involved: LWL (coordinator, Germany), Irefrea (Portugal), Gencat (Spain), Forum Prävention ONLUS (Italy), NUDZ/NIMH (Czech Republic), Integra Limburg (Belgium), EHYT (Finland), Educational Centre for Families & Schools (Latvia) & Athina Ygia (Greece).
Publications and downloads
A guide towards a binding cooperation between addiction care & child protection
Make the Difference has developed a practical guide to facilitate binding cooperation agreements between addiction support/prevention and child protection authorities.
Why is this important?
Children from families with addiction issues need clear, coordinated support systems. In practice, however, there is often a lack of binding agreements, a common language and coordinated processes. The guide offers structured instructions for the development and implementation of cooperation agreements.
Core contents of the guide:
- Clarify the basics: Actors involved, legal framework
- Key topics of the agreement: expectations, roles, responsibilities, common definitions, processes, qualification of professionals
- Implementation & sustainability: monitoring and evaluation
The guide was implemented in 12 EU countries and ended with the signing of binding cooperation agreements. The guide is currently only available in English.
Use the guide to improve cooperation!
Curriculum: Targeted qualification of professionals
Developed as part of the Erasmus+ partnership Qualification Makes the Difference with partners from 9 EU countries.
Who is it for?
Trainers and educators, social workers, teachers, health professionals, child protection officers, first responders, judiciary.
The curriculum comprises 7 modules:
- Addiction in the family
- Fundamentals of addiction
- Communication with affected families
- Strengthening & supporting parents
- Support for children
- Interdisciplinary cooperation
- Self-care & burnout prevention for professionals
Why use this curriculum?
- Early identification of risks & better support
- Practical case studies, exercises & discussions
- Free & flexible to use
Use the curriculum in your work!
This factsheet summarizes the aims and content of the curriculum.
Finances
Funding
Make the Difference was co-funded by the European Commission's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Program.
The follow-up project “Qualification makes the difference” was co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission.
