Between May 2019 and September 2023 the Network was funded as a COST Action. A COST Action is an interdisciplinary research network that brings researchers and innovators together to investigate a topic of their choice for four years. The main formal structure of a COST Action is the Management Committee (MC), which comprises MC members and MC substitutes from each of the participating countries. The MC is the decision-making structure for the Action, which, in the case of EurofamNet, included reaching agreements on work-plans and activities and signing off on key outputs. The formal leadership positions during the COST Action, as well as additional information, can be found on the COST website, here.
During the four years of the COST Action, the activities were organised through five Working Groups. Three of the working groups focused on developing the work related to Family support conceptualisation and delivery, Quality standards and evidence-based programmes and Family support workforce skills. You can read more about these working groups below. This work was supported by the Management and Coordination group, and the group in charge of the Dissemination of Activities and Results. In addition, the policy and practice spheres of EurofamNet were represented by the Policy and Practice Group and the future generation of researchers in the field of family support was represented in the Young Researchers Group. These two groups are currently still operational within the Network.
WG2 “Developing the European conceptual framework on family support”
The aim is to review of studies and European reports on conceptualization and delivering of family support in Europe. It also includes a review of relevant Family Support policies and Conventions. This will result in a publication on conceptualizing and delivering Family Support in Europe. A Cross-national study of perceptions on delivering family support and associated structures will be conducted and reported on. A wide-ranging consultation with policy, practitioner and service user stakeholders on Family Support issues needs will take place.
Deliverables
- A literature review on the conceptualization and delivery of family support in Europe.
- A review of CoE and European Union family and children’s rights policies in the context of UNCRC.
- A compendium of national surveys of family support, delivery and associated national structures in a number of European countries.
- A policy brief on family policy and family support in Europe: International and European policy frameworks and standards
- Policy brief “A framework for child and family support in Europe. Building comprehensive support systems
- Methodology and position paper for a review study on the conceptualisation and delivery of family support in Europe.
- Academic paper “Child parent of family? Applying a systemic lens to the conceptualisations of Family Support in Europe”
- Same-sex parenting support in Europe.
Other advances
- WG2 expert panel: Webinar “Supporting children and families during and post covid-19: combatting poverty, coping with work & family & enhancing wellbeing. View on Youtube >>
- 1 ITC Grant enjoyed
- 3 VMG enjoyed
- 2 DCG enjoyed
WG3 “Quality standards and evidence based programmes”
- WG3 aspires to provide directions for future developments on European and national levels, with regard to family support provision, research/evaluation and policy.
- Through collaboration on tasks and discussions, WG3 members seek for (new) ways to strengthen the effects of programmes to support parents and families and enhance children’s wellbeing and development.
- A comprehensive picture of the family support programmes and the extent to which the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) approach is established in policy and practice levels in European countries is being generated.
- The ultimate purpose is to facilitate further development of EBP (in accordance with the emerging European Quality standards for family support), and stimulate supportive policies at European and national levels.
Deliverables
- Academic paper “The Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Family Support across Europe: A Narrative Review”
- Map of international agencies on programme evaluation and quality standards
- National survey on adoption of Evidence-Based Standards in a sample of COST Action countries
- Summary report on workshop with stakeholders
- Academic paper on evaluation strategies’ position of EurofamNet
- Policy brief on evaluation strategies’ position of EurofamNet
- List of recommended books by WG3
- Catalogue of evaluation tools
- Collection of Training School tutorials
Other advances
- WG3 stakeholders workshop “bridging quality standards for evaluation with professional practice”
- Policy brief on Families in Positive: A collaborative and translational initiative for adoption of Evidence-Based Practices in Spain
- Policy brief on Family diversity and COVID-19: The voice of the professionals
- Policy brief on Family diversity and COVID-19: The voices of the families
- 4 ITC Grant enjoyed related to EurofamNet position on evaluation strategies
- 6 Short-term Scientific Missions developed
- 5 Dissemination Grant enjoyed
- 5 VMG enjoyed
WG4 “Developing a standardisation framework on skills”
- “Skillful group” collects data, analyzes and agrees on the skills qualification for family support workforce – professionals from psychosocial, mental health, educational, medical and judicial area and allied paraprofessionals.
- The main aim is to develop a common framework for standardization of skills, as the basis for the enhancement, harmonization and consistency of competencies of family support workforce across Europe.
- Task is to identify and map the international agencies on skills qualification, and to carry out a review of existing studies on skills for workforce in family support.
- Finally, we need to define the set of skills qualification required for a quality performance when attending families.
Deliverables
- Research report. A review of books and handbooks related to the workforce skills in family support
- Map of international agencies on family support workforce skills standards
- Research paper on full-scoped review of existing studies on skills’ standards for workforce in family support in peer-reviewed journals
- Research report. Systematic review of Family Support workforce skills: conceptualization, process, and findings
- Policy brief on Family support workforce skills literature review
- Policy brief Family support workforce skills: A scope review of books and handbooks
- List of recomended readings on the review of books and handbooks
- Catalogue of family support skills
- Report on the stakeholders’ workshop on family support skills
- Collection of Training School tutorials
- Catalogue of Family Support Skills – Core and field specific family support skills: The position of EurofamNet
Other advances
- 1 ITC Grant enjoyed
- 4 Short-term Scientific Mission developed
- 3 Dissemination Grant enjoyed
- 1 Virtual Mobility Grant enjoyed
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. www.cost.eu