#INTEGRAeu Newsletter #3
INTEGRA: Multidisciplinary Mentorship programme to support the entrepreneurship of children in care and young care-leavers
The ethnographic research conducted in the INTEGRA partner countries (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain) originated an innovative set of National Reports that analyse the process of ageing out of care in EU southern countries. The findings of this European research are highlighted and reviewed in the White Paper Ageing out of Care into Autonomous Living, which proposes tailored solutions to challenges, trends and needs that undermine a successful transition into adulthood.
Currently the project partners are coordinating Focus Groups with professionals working with children in care, employers and former successful care leavers where participants share experiences and discuss relevant activities, resources and features they believe should be included in the Platform For Cooperation.
This Platform aims linking target groups and various stakeholders working within or in close collaboration with care services to ease the social and professional integration of young care leavers and children ageing out of care in the community.
Alongside the Platform For Cooperation, project partners are also developing assessment tools, a Mentoring Integration Programme and other resources that will be released soon to empower caregivers as Leaving Care Mentors and ultimately contribute to the improvement of residential care standards at EU level.
#INTEGRAeu Newsletter #4
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center together with MMC- Mediterranean Management Center organised on April 2019, at the Olympic Hall, a multi-agency meeting with professionals working with children in care, employers and former successful care leavers, to share experiences and discuss relevant activities, resources and features they believe should be included in the INTEGRA Platform For Cooperation. The following agencies and organisations were represented at the Focus Group: Social Welfare Services of the Ministry of Labour andSocial Insurance, the Department of Labour from the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Cyprus Refugee Council, Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation, The Grammar school, Casa College, Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, (Ombudsman), CARDET, Kykkos A Lyceum, International Organisation of Migration, caregivers from HFC and one successful care leaver.
The central point of debate at the meeting was designing the Platform for Cooperation as a visual map, an educational tool, a network within a One Stop Shop framework for educational opportunities, jobs and internships to support integration of care leavers and sustainable cooperation. This Platform will link target groups and various stakeholders working within or in close collaboration with care services to ease the social and professional integration of young care leavers and children ageing out of care in the community.
Alongside the Platform For Cooperation, project partners are developing assessment tools, a Mentoring Integration Programme and other resources that will be released soon to empower caregivers as Leaving Care Mentors and ultimately contribute to the improvement of residential care standards at EU level.