A New Monitoring Model for Family Support and Parental Counselling Centers

Abstract

In the Lisbon district, since 2013, the Institute of Social Security has signed financial agreements with 16 social institutions for the development of 20 Family Support and Parental Counselling Centers - CAFAP.

The Family and Support and Parental Counselling Centers were created by the sub-law n.º 139/2013, and have assumed relevance in the child protection intervention within the Childhood and Youth Department, of the Lisbon District Center, of the Institute of Social Security.

The last quarter of 2023 was marked by the creation of a technical team assigned to the Protection and Alternative Care Sector - SPA. The first step was to meet and consult the CAFAP, with a view to updating the diagnostic assessment of their needs and priorities in the technical monitoring to be carried out.

Throughout 2024, the technical support team for CAFAP, based on the collaborative co-construction model, continued with meetings and working groups, with the active participation and involvement of all of the CAFAP Management and Technical Teams, which identified and explored topics of interest for debate and reflection, namely: Identity, Change, Procedures, Methodologies and Intervention Models, Network Construction and Self-care.

At the culmination of this challenge, agreed between CAFAP and the Technical Team of the Lisbon District Center, and aiming to share joint reflections and conclusions, the SPA Sector moved forward with organization of the 1st District Meeting of CAFAP, under the theme Identity in Co-construction, which took place on May 24th, where the conclusions were some innovative proposals from CAFAP, such as the creation of an E-Book and a Digital Platform – Placement Management.

By choosing Change, Co-Construction, Network and Diversity as key areas, the motto is set to continue the path of collaborative work with the CAFAP.