All roads lead to Rome
March 2025 indicates the halfwaypoint of project NEAR. Given the five partners in the ambitious project, our partner meeting and learning event in Rome on the 10th of March - 13th of March concludes the (first) cycle of visiting all partners. Below you can find details on an exciting agenda in the beautiful history-stacked capital of Italy. Mamma mia!
The 10th of March is dedicated to the arrival of the partners and the consortium meeting.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, the 11th of March, the partners will learn about the Italian model of social policies at the Ministry of Social Policies, the Role of Social Workers as an Essential Component of Local Services for the Care of Vulnerable Individuals with the National Council of the Order of Social Workers (CNOAS) and LEPS Supervisione.
The Italian welfare system is based on a multilayer governance model that promotes integration between different levels of government (State, Regions, Municipalities) and civil society actors. The State, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, defines national policies, establishes the Essential Levels of Social Services, and manages funding for social policies. Regions are responsible for the planning, coordination, and oversight of social services, ensuring integration with healthcare services and educational and employment policies. Municipalities are tasked with implementing the integrated social services system through the planning and delivery of social welfare interventions, involving Third Sector Entities in co-programming and co-design processes.
In the afternoon, the exciting project of 'Il buon Inizio' (Good Start) will provide further insights on care for children. The project's objective is to launch high-quality supplementary education initiatives in areas with various types of educational vulnerabilities in the minor population. These include cognitive enhancement workshops, personalized support pathways for children, targeted referrals.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, some of the best practices in social work will be presented at the University Roma Tre including ‘Metropolitan area zoning plan’, ‘Sala Operativa Sociale’, ‘Pippi’
and ‘Ufficio Rom, Sinti, Camminanti – il superamento dei campi nomadi’ with also a presentation of the network of Social Farms in the Lazio Region.
The Social Master Plan of the city of Rome represents the commitment of the Municipal Administration in planning, designing, and implementing the city's system of social services and interventions. At the same time, it serves as a tool for interpreting urban development policies from the perspective of needs, social demand, social rights, and urban standards based on processes of social, environmental, and territorial sustainability (territorial planning, mobility, quality of life, etc.).
The Social Operations Room has been addressing social emergencies in the city by identifying situations of distress, such as loneliness, difficult family relationships or domestic violence. The service relies on a call center staffed by social workers who respond 24/7. Mobile units are composed of educators, psychologists, and social workers who intervene at the location of the report and refer individuals to institutional representatives or reception facilities. Additionally, they provide essential goods in cases of extreme chronic homelessness.
Social Farms are facilities that extend their services to support individuals facing psychological or physical disadvantages, or those who are vulnerable or at risk of marginalization. Their assistance includes educational, cultural, occupational services, and support for families and educational institutions. They operate as fully functional agricultural enterprises with an entrepreneurial nature, aiming to replicate a social economy model that balances the profit of the business with the well-being of the community.
Thursday
While Thursday marks the end of the visit to the majestic city of Rome, there is a study visit at the European Parlement with presentations about AFFIDO, ASPROC and Good Practices to Support European Social Work Professionals.
Inspired by the principles of volunteerism, democracy, and social solidarity, A.S.Pro.C. promotes voluntary assistance in situations of natural disasters and emergencies, operating both nationally and internationally. The mission of the Association is to organize a professional social work rapid response system dedicated to the forecasting, prevention, and management of emergencies, intervening either independently or in cooperation with public institutions, private entities, and other organizations operating in the sector.
AFFIDO aims to strengthen the protection system for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (MSNA) through pathways that emphasize the "family relationship" as the primary support in the transition to adulthood. The social worker plays a key role, collaborating with professionals to create personalized protection and autonomy pathways.